WKU News

WKU will kick off its celebration of Black History Month 2023 with an Opening Ceremony at 6:30 tonight (Feb. 1).

This year’s theme is Black Resistance. This is a call to everyone, inside and outside the academy, to study the history of Black Americans’ responses to establish safe spaces where Black life can be sustained, fortified, and respected.

Black History Month events include film screenings, a black business fair, a multicultural retreat, and a mental health seminar. 

The full calendar is available at www.wku.edu/isec/blackhistorymonth; here are some highlights:

• Black History Month Opening Ceremony, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday (Feb. 1) at Harbaugh Club at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium. The Opening Ceremony will feature guest speaker Shawn Sales and performances by several student groups. The event is open to the public, but capacity is limited. 
• Black History Month Night at Hilltopper Basketball, 7 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 2) at Diddle Arena. Celebrate Black History Month with Hilltopper Basketball as the Toppers host UTSA. We will honor the past as we recognize some of our first African American athletes and celebrate with several performances. Students receive free admission with a WKU ID. Fans can use the promo code BLACKHISTORY at checkout to purchase a $10 bleacher seat for this game. 
• Epic Rap Battles of Black History with Bert & Det, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 7 at Downing Student Union Nite Class. Bert and Det produce three rounds of emcee battles, highlighting contrasting views of famous African American men and women.
• Black Excellence Showcase, 7 p.m. Feb. 8 at Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center Recital Hall. The Black Excellence Exposition is an annual student-created and student-run performance to provide a stage for black voices by members of the WKU Forensics Team and others from the university and the surrounding community.
• What Happened to Jonesville? Exhibit, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 15 at Downing Student Union, first floor. Jonesville was a vibrant African American community in Bowling Green from around 1881 to the 1960s. Although the buildings are gone, many people there have passed on their stories live on through former residents and their descendants. This exhibit explores and sheds light on their stories. This event is presented by the Jonesville Reconciliation Workgroup.  
• The Black Experience, 6 p.m. Feb. 23 at DSU Auditorium. The Black Experience will take you through the timeline of Black Americans and expose the generational plight of Black people in America. There will be spoken word, poets, singers, dancers, actors, and more. 
• Multicultural Retreat, 11 a.m. March 4 at Eva and Jim Martens Alumni Center. The 2023 Multicultural Retreat will focus on weaving together the many cultures represented at WKU. Students can share more about their own cultures and learn more about other cultures represented on the hill through small group activities and more extensive focus sessions. Some topics will include challenging biases, enjoying cultural presentations from WKU international students, and engaging in cultural dialogues. Participants will receive free meals during the retreat and a T-shirt for participation. All participants should apply in advance. For information about the retreat, contact Amelia Kolb at amelia.kolb@wku.edu. 
• Art Exhibit. Stop by the ISEC Art Gallery in DSU 2041 from Feb. 7-Feb. 28 to view the “Melanin” Illustrative Gallery Show. 

For information and updates, follow @wkuisec on all social media platforms or call ISEC at (270) 745-5066.