{"id":509,"date":"2023-09-07T19:35:08","date_gmt":"2023-09-07T19:35:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/equity\/?page_id=509"},"modified":"2026-02-19T21:17:54","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T21:17:54","slug":"black-history-month","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/equity\/black-history-month\/","title":{"rendered":"Black History Month"},"content":{"rendered":"

Efforts to dedicate a specific time to center Black history and narratives began in the early 19th century and was championed by Carter G. Woodson<\/a>, the \u201cfather of Black history” and co-founder of the Study of Negro Life and History, now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History<\/a>. Woodson first established the second week of February as “Negro History Week” because it captures the birthdays of both Fredrick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Since 1976, the month of February has been designated as Black History Month in the United States. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During this month, Macalester College invites our campus to center and learn Black history, art, film, literature, and research by engaging in intentional community and thoughtful dialogue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you would like to have a program featured, please submit details via our online form<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please note that the events below are coordinated by different organizations and departments at Macalester. Use the links below for further information or directly contact the event host with questions.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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MSCS and Society \u2013 Dr. Ranthony Clark: A Case for Quantitative Justice<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Mon., Feb. 2 | 4:40 p.m. \u2013 6:00 p.m. | John B. Davis Lecture Hall (Campus Center)
Hosted by: Math, Science, and Computer Science (MSCS) | mscs@macalester.edu <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quantitative Justice is an emerging interdisciplinary research field that asks a simple but powerful question: How do the mathematical sciences interact with society? Bringing together ideas from mathematics, statistics, computer science, and data science, Quantitative Justice develops rigorous tools to investigate real-world systems that shape people\u2019s lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this talk, I introduce the central ideas of Quantitative Justice and highlight examples from several research communities that show how mathematical approaches can illuminate questions of fairness and representation. I will also focus on my own work, which centers on voting rights and electoral redistricting, as an example of how quantitative methods can deepen our understanding of democratic processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Along the way, we\u2019ll explore what it takes to view a social concern from a quantitative lens, and how doing so can generate both meaningful societal insights and rich mathematical problems. I will also reflect briefly on my path into this field and why Quantitative Justice offers exciting opportunities for students and scholars who want to use their quantitative skills in service of a better society. (www.RanthonyClark.com) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mahmoud El-Kati Distinguished Lectureship in American Studies featuring Dr. Gerald Horne<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Fri., Feb. 6 | 7 p.m. \u2013 8:30 a.m. | Hill Ballroom (Kagin Commons)
RSVP Form<\/a>
Hosted by: American Studies <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Trump Happened: A View from History.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are invited to the El-Kati Distinguished Lectureship in American Studies featuring Professor Gerald Horne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Join us for an illuminating lecture by Professor Gerald Horne, one of today\u2019s most incisive historians of race, class, and imperial power. He is the Moores Professor of History and African American Studies at the University of Houston. Horne has authored more than thirty books and a hundred scholarly articles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his trail-blazing work, Horne challenges conventional narratives of American history by placing them within a broader global context: overlapped colonies, slave revolts, labor movements, and imperial ambitions. From reconceiving the meaning of the 1776 Revolution to examining how white supremacy and capitalism intertwined across continents, Horne reveals how hidden entanglements between African diaspora, Indigenous peoples, corporate power, and state violence, shape the contemporary political landscape.

Engage with Professor Horne for a journey that will expand your perspective and inspire deeper questions about the past and the politics of today. Don\u2019t miss this opportunity to hear one of the most provocative voices in historical scholarship. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Counted Out<\/em> \u2013 Documentary Screening <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Tue., Feb. 10 | 7:00 p.m. \u2013 9:00 p.m. |  John B. Davis Lecture Hall (Campus Center)
Hosted by: Math, Science, and Computer Science (MSCS) | mscs@macalester.edu<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are You Ready For Change? With education under attack and misinformation on the rise, math is more than just numbers\u2014it\u2019s a language for reason, a foundation for truth, and a tool for democracy. Across the country, communities are coming together to explore how math literacy shapes everything from opportunity to civic life. Join our growing movement to reimagine math\u2014not just as a subject, but as a shared language for building a healthier, more informed future. (Trailer<\/a>) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Black History Month Community Luncheon<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Tue., Feb. 17 | 11:30 a.m. \u2013\u00a01:00 p.m. | Weyerhaeuser Boardroom
RSVP Form<\/a> (Due to limited space, RSVP is required.)
Hosted by: Institutional Equity | equity@macalester.edu<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Minnesota? From a Black Minnesotan Perspective<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Institutional Equity invites our campus community to attend our annual Black History Month Community Luncheon. During this luncheon we will revisit Black Minnesotan history with Ayaan Natala ’18<\/a> to contextualize the present political moment and discuss the necessity of community, organizing, and imagination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ayaan graduated from Macalester College as a double major in Political Science and American Studies with a concentration in Human Rights and Humanitarianism. Currently, she is a Ph.D. candidate in American Studies at the University of Minnesota and an interdisciplinary Black studies scholar based in the Twin Cities. Her dissertation explores how Black Lives Matter organizing shaped Black Minnesotans\u2019 reflections on freedom across their life histories, tracing how the 2020 historic moment influenced community visions for liberation and the ongoing struggle to make those visions real. Her project is rooted in community-engaged research and a commitment to documenting how Black Minnesotans\u2014residents, activists, elders, and leaders narrate both the harm and the hope of this political era. Aside from academics, Ayaan is passionate about health and wellness, nature, and creating a soundtrack for her next travel adventure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Twin Cities Connection: Sounds of Blackness’ “Music for Martin”<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Fri., Feb. 20 | 7:30 p.m. | Ordway Music Theater
RSVP Form<\/a> (Limited Tickets)
Hosted by: Institutional Equity and Program Board | equity@macalester.edu<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thre-time Grammy-winning ensemble presents an original tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Founded by Russell Knighton as a student program in 1969 at Macalester College, the group was originally called Macalester College Black Voices. In 1971, leadership transitioned to Gary Hines, director at the time, and the group name changed to Sounds of Blackness. In the following years, the group gained national recognition, fame, and have won three Grammy Awards and four Stellar Awards. (First Avenue<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Music for Martin brings the Grammy Award\u2013winning Sounds of Blackness<\/a> back to the Ordway with one of their most powerful and enduring original works. First premiering on our stage in January 1988, this production was created, arranged, and produced by Gary Hines, Music Director of Sounds of Blackness, specifically for a performance at the Ordway. It weaves together music, narration, and visual elements to honor the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Ordway<\/a>) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Previous Events and Programs<\/h2>\n\t \t