1/27/2021
2021 Black History Month at UIU
Black History Month is dedicated to recognizing the role of Black Americans in U.S. history: celebrating their achievements, contributions, and rich culture through a variety of engaging and educational programs.
In 1926 the second week of February was observed as “Negro History Week.” That week was chosen because within it fell the birthdays of former President Abraham Lincoln and prominent abolitionist and escaped slave Frederick Douglas. In the late 1960’s the celebration expanded, thanks in large part to the Civil Rights Movement, to include the entire month of February.
UIU alum Nelson Evans came back to campus to speak at a previous BHM event. Click to Read More!
Together, the Diversity and Inclusion Committee and Department of Student Life are working to bring both virtual and in-person opportunities to celebrate Black History Month to Upper Iowa University. For updates on the schedule of events and available resources please continue to revisit this page.
At Upper Iowa University we believe it is important to remember that Black history is everyone’s history. Born in 1851, Susan Angeline Collins was recorded as Upper Iowa’s first Black student. Her father was a slave who fought first in the courtroom for his freedom and later in the Civil War. In 1865 the Collins family moved to Fayette County, and in 1879 Susan enrolled at Upper Iowa. She went on to impact the world through her missionary work and returned to Fayette for the final years of her life.
Interested in serving on next year’s planning committee? Please contact the Assistant Vice President for Student Life, Danielle Rosario Cushion, at [email protected].
