Black History Month events at Tulane University

February commemorates Black History Month. This year’s official theme is Health and Wellness, but events nationwide — and at Tulane — span the breadth of the Black experience. Check out these events on and around the Tulane campus.

BSU student events
Tulane’s Black Student Union is hosting student events in February, including a Black History Month Kickoff Party Feb. 4. Check out their events page here and email the organization for more information.

Feb. 5
OMA Alternative Break Trip: Legacy Museum & National Memorial For Peace and Justice
Join the Office of Multicultural Affairs on a trip to Montgomery, Alabama, to visit the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice. During the trip, the group will explore the history of inequity, racism and other forms of oppression faced by Black people in the United States. Hear narratives, observe documents and deconstruct the legacy of slavery and how it connects to injustice and mass incarceration today. This day trip will involve individual reflection, large and small group dialogue, and movement throughout the area.

Feb. 9
MLK lecture: Maya Wiley
In a rescheduled keynote speech from Tulane’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration, nationally recognized civil rights lawyer and racial justice advocate Maya Wiley will reflect on King’s life and legacy. Her lecture and question-and-answer session will focus on topics connected to social justice, equity and inclusion. This event is hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs and other organizations.

Through Feb. 15
Sites of Memory: New Orleans and Place-Based Histories in the Americas
While not specifically tied to Black History Month, several events sponsored by Sawyer Seminars and Tulane University are opportunities to think about Louisiana’s role in the transatlantic slave trade and how we view sites related to that legacy. The series includes site visits, field trips, discussions and more. Click here for the schedule. Read more about Sawyer Seminars’ Tulane connections. This series is organized by Newcomb Art Department and the School of Liberal Arts and sponsored by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Feb. 16
Vann Newkirk lecture
The Bobby Yan Lectureship in Media and Social Change welcomes Vann R. Newkirk II for a lecture and conversation with history professor Andy Horowitz. Newkirk is a senior editor at The Atlantic, and the host and co-creator of the 2021 Peabody Award-winning “Floodlines,” an eight-part narrative podcast about Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. In “Storytelling Against the Crisis,” Newkirk will examine this country's twinned issues of a climate crisis and racial inequality, with each posing a threat to African American history, and will explore an underlooked tool in the arsenal against both threats: storytelling. This annual lectureship is named after Tulane Trailblazer and alumnus Bobby Yan and is presented by the School of Liberal Arts.

Feb. 19
HBCU Legacy Bowl
Tulane’s Yulman Stadium will host the first HBCU Legacy Bowl, a football game played by top draft-eligible athletes from historically Black colleges and universities. The game is presented by the Black College Football Hall of Fame and features a halftime show by Grambling State University’s Tiger Marching Band. Read more about the Legacy Bowl at Yulman here.

Feb. 23
Black Women’s Yoga and Wellness Traditions with Dr. Stephanie Evans
Dr. Stephanie Evans, a professor at Georgia State University, investigates the relationship between Black women and stress — and how they manage stress through meditation and yoga — throughout history. Evans, author of Black Women's Yoga History: Memoirs of Inner Peace, looks at life writings by notable Black women such as Eartha Kitt, Rosa Parks, Tina Turner and others. Evans will discuss the tradition of Black women’s healing practices. This event is sponsored by the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Click here to register.

Feb. 23
“Ailey” documentary and discussion
The late Alvin Ailey was a groundbreaking dancer and choreographer whose company, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, is dedicated to “preserving the uniqueness of the African-American cultural experience.” A screening of “Ailey” looks at his life and inspiration and will be followed by a discussion. This event is presented by New Student and Leadership Programs, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, and others. Click here for more information and watch the trailer here.

For more information on Black History Month, click here.