Marquette University hosting Black History Month events throughout February

Jan. 31, 2025

MILWAUKEE - Marquette University will host a series of events celebrating Black History Month throughout the month of February. A complete list of Black History Month events is available online.

Programming for Black History Month is coordinated through the Center for Engagement and Inclusion and other units on campus.

"Things Your History Teacher Didn't Teach You: Blacks in History - Part 2" (Wednesday, Feb. 5, 12:15 p.m.). For many, knowledge of the contributions of African Americans in America is limited. Historically, the contributions and stories of people of color in America have been minimized or ignored in American history textbooks. Derek Mosley, director of Marquette University Law School's Lubar Center for Public Policy Research and Civic Education, discusses the many contributions of African Americans, conveying that Black history is indeed U.S. history. On this 60-minute journey, attendees will meet people and hear stories that will amaze, enlighten and inspire. Limited registration is available online.

Douglass Day Transcribe-A-Thon (Friday, Feb. 14, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or noon to 1:30 p.m.). The Douglass Day Transcribe-A-Thon is a national event that celebrates the life and legacy of abolitionist, orator and author Frederick Douglass through collective action-transcription-with the goal of increasing the accessibility of Black scholars' and activists' written records. Previously, participants in Douglass Day have transcribed documents associated with Mary Church Terrell, Anna Julia Cooper and the Colored Conventions. This year's transcribe-a-thon will focus on the African American Perspectives Collection at the Library of Congress. Registration, available for two sessions at Raynor Library or the Lemonis Center for Student Success, is available online.

Visual Legacies: Photographs by Ellie Lee Weems (Feb. 1-28). For more than 50 years, Ellie Lee Weems (1901-83) trained his lens on the African American residents of Jacksonville, Florida. Weems imaged entertainers, newlyweds and beauty queens in his photography studio. In addition, his camera accompanied him throughout his vibrant community as he documented life events as ceremonial as graduations and as routine as backyard gatherings. His yearslong practice resulted in a copious archive that continues to expand visual and historical accounts of the American South and beyond. The exhibition presents a glimpse into the photographer's work and offers a gateway for reflection on the power, practice and preservation of African American photography, situating Weems among a host of image makers who have contributed to the rich visual repository of African American life and culture. More information on the exhibition is available online.

Other events include: "Black Fives" night when the women's basketball team hosts St. John's on Wednesday, Feb. 5; the annual Ebony Ball, hosted by the Black Student Council, on Friday, Feb. 21; and a Black Joy exhibit from Monday, Feb. 24, to Friday, Feb. 28, designed to show the joy and compilation of Black culture at Marquette.

The Gospel Choir will perform at several events, including the National Anthem at both home women's basketball games.