Black History Month at Alvernia

All are welcome to join Alvernia University's Office of Justice, Equity and Inclusion (JEI); the Black Student Union (BSU), the Pura Vida Club, Pack Hospitality, Student Activities, the O'Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship and the Office of Institutional Advancement at the following events on campus and locally during Black History Month. Events that are open to the public are listed as such.

Additionally, enjoy Black media this month with book and podcast recommendations from the Frank A. Franco Library, as well as movies & TV shows to watch, all listed below.

ON CAMPUS

Chef Spotlight

Every Monday in February

• Location: Student Center Dining Hall
• Description: This Black History Month, we will honor our chefs whose heritage and creativity inspire dishes that bring people together. Their impact goes beyond the plate-they're feeding a movement.
  

Chalk the Walk

Date: February 4, 2026

• Time: 12:00-4:00 pm
• Location: Quad
• Description: Decorate the Quad walkway with powerful and inspirational quotes from African American leaders and waymakers. Chalk will be out on the quad between these hours, so students can add their favorite quote.
  

Mardi Gras Paint Night

Date: February 5, 2026

• Time: 4:00-6:00 pm
• Location: Student Center Seminar Rooms
• Description: Celebrate the artistry of Mardi Gras by painting your own canvas! Bring your vision, we will provide the supplies (and the pizza)!
  

Mardi Gras Cash Cab

• Date: February 17, 2026
• Time: 12:00-2:00 pm
• Location: Quad
• Description: Learn some facts about Mardi Gras as we go into the season of Lent! You have the chance to win prizes by correctly answering Mardi Gras-themed trivia questions.

Just Mercy: Reflections on Justice and our Shared Responsibility

This event is open to the public- REGISTER HERE.

• Date: February 18, 2026
• Time: 5:00-8:00 p.m.
• Location: Francis Hall Atrium, hosted by VOiCEup Berks
• Description: Join us for a special evening with Tad Roach, a member of Bryan Stevenson's team at the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI). Students are invited to learn about EJI's work and engage in meaningful conversations about justice, equity, and the themes presented in Just Mercy.
  

Expressions of Excellence: 100 Years of Black History

This event is open to the public- REGISTER HERE

• Date: February 20, 2026
• Time: 5:30 - 8:30 PM
• Location: Francis Hall Atrium
• Description: This year's Black History Month celebration centers on honoring 100 years of Black excellence, uplifting the heritage of those who paved the way, celebrating today's leaders and creatives, and inspiring forthcoming generations through storytelling, art, and community dialogue.
  

Calypso Night

• Date: February 23, 2026
• Time: 6:00-8:00 pm
• Location: Francis Hall Atrium
• Description: Join the Black Student Union and Pura Vida for Calypso Night! Enjoy and appreciate Afro-Caribbean culture through live music and cuisine.

Legacy & Leadership: Black Voices in Career Success

• Date: February 25, 2026
• Time: 6:00-7:30 pm
• Location: Student Center Seminar Rooms
• Description: Hear from Alvernia alumni as they share their professional journeys, their Alvernia experiences, and insights into navigating their fields. After the panel, join us for light refreshments and a networking opportunity with the Alvernia community.
  

Black Excellence Night

• Date: February 25, 2026
• Time: 7:00-9:00 pm
• Location: Campus Commons Living Room
• Description: Join BSU in the Campus Commons for a group study session. With midterms quickly approaching and spring break around the corner, let's get on top of our work together!
  

Dominican Independence Day

• Date: February 26, 2026
• Time: 4:00-6:00 pm
• Location: Campus Commons Living Room
• Description: Celebrate Dominican Independence Day with Pura Vida! Join us for an evening of Dominican food, music, and the classic game of dominoes.

IN THE COMMUNITY:

Black History Month Celebration

• Date: February 26, 2026
• Time: 4:00-6:00 pm
• Location: Campus Commons Living Room
• Description: Celebrate Dominican Independence Day with Pura Vida! Join us for an evening of Dominican food, music, and the classic game of dominoes.

Ujima Conference

• Date: February 18-20 | REGISTER HERE
• Location: Kutztown University, Various Locations
• Description: Black & African Heritage Month is an annual celebration of the hard work and contributions of Black and African Americans. To commemorate this month, we host an annual Ujima Conference to highlight the work of students and staff at Kutztown University.

Museum of the American Revolution: Revolutions of African Descent

• Date: All Month Long | GET TICKETS
• Location: Campus Commons Living Room
• Description: Celebrate Dominican Independence Day with Pura Vida! Join us for an evening of Dominican food, music, and the classic game of dominoes.

Book and Podcast Recommendations from the Frank A. Franco Library:

Information Literacy Librarian, Jo Dienst, compiled a list of Black media to enjoy this month. The bolded titles below are available in the Franco Library collection; other titles are available through the Berks County Public Libraries.

Young Adult Books

1. All Boys Aren't Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto by George M. Johnson - 2020
2. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas - 2017
3. Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds - 2017
4. The Unboxing of a Black Girl by Angela Shanté - 2024
5. The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo - 2018

Adult Fiction Books

1. The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride - 2023
2. Black Like Us: A Century of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual African American Fiction by Devon W. Carbado, Dwight A. McBride, and Donald Weise - 2002
3. The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers - 2021
4. James by Percival Everett - 2024
5. Chain Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah - 2024

Non-Fiction Books

1. You Are Your Best Thing: Vulnerability, Shame Resilience, and the Black Experience by Tarana Burke and Brené Brown - 2021
2. The Souls of Black Folk: Essays and Sketches by W. E. B. DuBois
3. Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi - 2017
4. Becoming by Michelle Obama - 2018
5. Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party's Promise to the People by Kekla Magoon - 2021

Academic Research Books

1. American While Black: African Americans, Immigration, and the Limits of Citizenship by Niambi Michele Carter - 2019
2. Black Bodies, White Gazes: The Continuing Significance of Race in America by George Yancy - 2017
3. Color Stories: Black Women and Colorism in the 21^st Century by JeffriAnne Wilder - 2015
4. Black and Blue: Inside the Divide Between the Police and Black America by Jeff Pegues - 2017
5. Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism by Safiya Umoja Noble - 2018

Jo's Favorites (Your Information Literacy Librarian)

1. Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson - 2025
2. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett - 2020
3. Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi - 2020
4. Your Heart is a Muscle the Size of a Fist by Sunil Yapa - 2016
5. Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid - 2019

Movies & TV Shows to Watch: 

"Sinners" on HBO MAX - 2025 (R)

• Starring Michael B. Jordan, twin brothers return to their Mississippi hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.

"Abbott Elementary" on Hulu - 2021-Present (TV-PG)

• A group of dedicated, passionate teachers find themselves thrown together in a Philadelphia public school where, despite the odds stacked against them, they are determined to help their students succeed in life.

The Six Triple Eight - 2024 (PG-13)

• An American war drama film written and directed by Tyler Perry, on the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, an all-black, all-female battalion.

"Rustin" on Netflix - 2023 (PG-13)  

• Starring Colman Domingo, produced by former President Barack Obama & First Lady Michelle Obama, Rustin is an American biographical drama that portrays the life of civil rights activist Bayard Rustin. It is based on the true story of Rustin & Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, who organized & led the 1963 March on Washington.  

"Black Panther" and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" on Disney Plus (PG-13)  

• Starring Chadwick Boseman and Angela Bassett, the Black Panther movie series is a movie that tells the story of a revered superhero who is also a King. He must defend the kingdom from their enemies who want to take it over.

"Stamped From the Beginning" on Netflix (Rated R)  

• Using animation and expert ideas, this documentary - based on Ibram Kendi's bestseller - explores the history of racist ideas in America.  

"Amend: The Fight for America" on Netflix (Rated MA)  

• A six-episode limited series about several social justice issues ranging from racism to marriage equality and the overall importance of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution. Episodes 1-3 connect to Black History Month with their focus on the struggle for race equality, tying in the social movement over time with the impact of the legal decisions happening over the last two centuries.