Black History Month
Black History Month 2023: "It's More than a Month"
Founded as Negro History (and literature) Week in 1926 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, Black History Month began as a way to highlight Black progress following the Civil War and reconstruction. Currently, this month is a catalyst to celebrate and acknowledge the achievements and struggles of African Americans and members of the African Diaspora. We aim to promote the diversity and complexities of Black identity through multiple lenses and experiences.
“It’s More than a Month” is the 2023 Black History Month theme to encourage everyone to broaden their engagement and knowledge of Black culture. Help us celebrate and educate the Clemson community, and focus on ways to highlight the culture beyond February!
Please stay updated by keeping up with the Gantt newsletter and Instagram account @CuGantt. If you would like to volunteer for any of the events, please fill out this form by Sunday, January 29th and we will reach out to you on Monday, January 30th with more information!
Open Mic Night: For the Culture, February 16, 2023 7-9 PM at the Barnes Center
|Open Mic Night: For the Culture is an evening of culture-filled spoken word, poetry, song, dance, music, and more! Come show off your black magic, joy, or appreciation for black culture by sharing your art. Join Gantt, UNITES, and Clemson Black Student Union (CBSU) for an evening of fun and beautiful artistry. If you are interested in performing please fill out this form by Sunday, February 5th. We will reach out to you on Monday, February 6th to discuss any information.
5k Call My Name, February 19, 2023 8-10 AM at Carillon Garden
Runners will gather in the Carillon Garden before running a route that guides them past sites of significance for Black history at Clemson, including the Fort Hill Plantation House, Littlejohn Coliseum, and the African American Burial Ground and Woodland Cemetery. Registration for the “Call My Name” 5K can be completed at the run’s official website. Those who register by January 29 will receive a commemorative race t-shirt. All participants will receive a pamphlet with information about significant sites along the route and will be invited to take a guided Call My Name walking tour of the historic campus immediately after the race.
Call My Name Walking Tour, February 19, 2023 9:30 and 10:00 AM, starts at Old Main (Tillman Hall)
Participants can take a 60-minute guided walking of Clemson’s historic district to learn more about sites associated with Black history on campus, including the Fort Hill Plantation House, Memorial Stadium, Woodland Cemetery, and Hardin Hall, as well as places where this history has been erased from the landscape, such as Kappa Drive that leads to the Strom Thurmond Institute Building. Sign up here for one of the tours.
Soul Food Sunday, February 19, 2023 6-8 PM at the Burton Gallery, Littlejohn Coliseum
Soul Food Sunday is an annual Black History Month event that brings the Clemson community together through food, music, and the celebration of Black culture. Originating in the Southern United States, soul food is ethnic cuisine traditionally prepared and eaten by African Americans. The term was coined in the 1960s during a time of strong Black cultural identity and expression. Soul Food Sunday will give you a "taste" of Black history, from cornbread and yams to chicken and greens. Soul Food Sunday is an opportunity for the Clemson community to celebrate Black culture, community, and food. Come join Gantt and Athletics for some good food and company!
Keynote Speaker: Conscious Lee, February 22, 2023 6-8 PM at the Watt Center Auditorium
Gantt, Clemson Black Student Union (CBSU), and the Council of Diversity Affairs (CODA) present social media sensation Conscious Lee as our keynote speaker for BHM 2023! Conscious Lee isn’t your typical Professor, Education Consultant, Diversity, Equity, or Inclusion Professional and you don’t want him to be. The Bryan, Texas Native has over 2 million followers on social media, being named YouTube Content Creator Choice of The Year 2022. Conscious has over 10 years of experience in education and over 7 years of experience in consulting.
Virtual Woodland Cemetery Tour
Due to the Pathways Project temporarily closing Woodland Cemetery at Clemson University, the cemetery team would like to bring our free cemetery walking tour to you virtually during the Spring 2023 semester. The Woodland Cemetery Preservation Project and Historic African American Burial Ground team will present one-hour virtual tours to classes, local organizations, and campus and community groups. With the help of our Creative Inquiry team, we have developed this experiential storytelling tool to share the history of the cemetery, including the recently recovered unmarked burials of hundreds of marginalized people. If you would like us to present, please contact us via our main email address afamburials@clemson.edu, or email the Community Engagement Assistant @mdrayto@clemson.edu.
Social Media
Be sure to follow the Gantt Multicultural Center on social media to learn more about upcoming Black History Month events! @CuGantt on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.
Accessibility Needs
The Gantt Multicultural Center strives to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including folks with disabilities, to engage fully. If you need accommodations (such as an ASL interpreter, mobility assistance, etc.), please contact Deja Kenion (dkenion@clemson.edu) at least 1 week before the event you would like to attend.
