Black history is American history. To understand the state of our nation, we must fully educate ourselves on the moments and movements that got us to this point. Black History Month was first celebrated in February 1926, but every month since continues the story of the African-American’s experience. Tigers, let’s take a look at a few reasons why June has been a particularly important month of Black History, for Mizzou and for the nation.
1. #BlackatMizzou and #StillConcerned are trending hashtags on Twitter.
In response to the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, the Black student population at Mizzou came together on Twitter to share their experiences as students at MU. These vulnerable and raw posts revealed heartbreaking stories that prompted swift action by Mizzou leadership to address the underlying root of these instances. The hashtag #StillConcerned arose over the Concerned Student 1950 demands established in 2015 over racial issues on campus. As students met with Mizzou leadership about progress and next steps, Mizzou committed to report back on advancements in inclusion, diversity and equity. In July, Mizzou will host a forum with the Division of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity with a progress report and strategies for continued growth.
On June 2, 2020, thousands of social media users joined Blackout Tuesday, a collective action protesting racism and police brutality. Originally organized by the music industry, the expanded campaign was a response to the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor. Businesses took part in the movement and were encouraged to abstain from releasing music or participating in other operations. There were a number of outlets that silenced programming for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, the amount of time that officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on Floyd’s neck. Personally, I received multiple emails from businesses like Target, Postmates, and even Spotify expressing their support of the movement and their intent to support Black-owned businesses and artists. Spotify curated multiple “Black” playlists with songs about police brutality, Black pride, and Black love.
3. Race, Racism, and the American Experience
The Division of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity at Mizzou recently released a self-guided curriculum titled “Race, Racism, and the American Experience.” It is a 10-day program that encourages participants to study, journal, and reflect upon their personal experiences while simultaneously increasing conversations surrounding racism and racial injustices. Students have the option to study this curriculum individually, or they can do it collectively. In fact, our organization, the Alumni Association Student Board, is working through the curriculum together so we can grow together. Challenge the student groups you’re involved in to make this same commitment, or begin your own journey here.
4. Juneteenth
Juneteenth is a holiday that commemorates June 19, 1865, when slaves in Texas received word that the Confederacy had surrendered and the Emancipation Proclamation could be realized: slaves were now free. Juneteenth became a state holiday in Texas in 1980, but has yet to become a national holiday. Juneteenth is important to recognize because it reminds us of our past - education is important to avoid replication. For African-Americans, this is Independence Day - freedom from slavery. Major corporations like Nike, Uber, and the NFL gave their employees a paid work holiday this year for Juneteenth and are planning to recognize the holiday as a company-wide holiday from now on. Many have come together to sign a petition to make Juneteenth a national holiday in the United States.
Learn something new? Tigers are lifelong learners and this is an excellent opportunity to learn something new and share with others. We still have six months left in 2020 for more progress, meaning that we have six more chances for six more months to recognize and celebrate Black history. Let’s get to work!
TTN Sophomore
Click on Rachel's name for author bio!
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