Black Joy Month

About

SCU is proud to celebrate Black Joy Month during the month of February. Each year, Black History Month takes place to honor and celebrate the achievements by African Americans. This period is a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history.

The origins of Black History month date back to 1926 when Carter G. Woods created “Negro History Week”, and students at Kent State University organized the first Black History Month celebration in 1970. President Ford officially proclaimed February as Black History Month in 1976 and it has been celebrated ever since.

This distinction of Black Joy Month was made following direct student feedback to highlight lightness, optimism and the beauty of the Black/Pan-African experience at SCU and throughout America. Thank you to partners in Igwebuike, Black/Pan-African ERG, Inclusive Excellence and UMC for your partnership.

2025 Calendar of Events

Current calendar of events as of January 30, 2026. Please check back for additional events and updates.

Visit the Black Joy Month Book Display in the University Library/Learning Commons throughout February. This hand selected book list, chosen by SCU's Black/Pan-African ERG and SCU Library staff, illuminates the diversity that exists within the Black experience.

DATE	EVENT INFORMATION	TIME & LOCATION
February 1	Black History Celebration: Excellence Through the Senses Free food, activities and music Co-Sponsored by Santa Clara University and Jack & Jill of American, Inc. - San Jose Chapter	2:00pm - 5:00pm, Locatelli Student Activity Center
February 4, 11, 18, 25	Igwebuike Weekly General Meeting @scuigwebuike on Instagram Co-Chairs: Jalen Paige (jpaige@scu.edu) and Sofia Ervin Agudelo (servinaguelo@scu.edu)	5:00pm - 6:00pm, Shapell Lounge, Multicultural Center
February 5	Exhibition Reception & Artist Lecture: Jonathan Calm - To Wherever, Forever: Archives of Absence & Sites of Passage	4:00pm - 5:00pm. Edward M. Dowd Art & Art History Building Gallery 5:00pm - 7:00pm, de Saisset Museum 5:30pm - Artist Lecture at the de Saisset Museum Contact: Lauren Baines, lbaines@scu.edu
February 7	Kota Ezawa: National Anthem - One-Day Screening & Artist Talk Co-Sponsored with the Center for the Arts & Humanities	Video will be shown on loop from 12:00 Noon - 4:00pm at the de Saisset Museum Artist talk starting at 12:30pm, followed by reception RSVP requested but not required Contact: Lauren Baines, lbaines@scu.edu
February 9	Winter Quarter Diversity Forum	Doors open at 5:00pm Event is from 5:30pm - 7:30pm in the CA Mission Room, Benson
February 9	Black History 101 Mobile Museum Class Sessions Dr. Khalid el-Hakim will engage and inform on the Black History 101 Mobile Museum	Class presentations Faculty - if you are interested in bringing your classes, contact rplaza@scu.edu
February 10	Black History 101 Mobile Museum Established by the educator and scholar Dr. Khalid el-Hakim, the Black History 101 Mobile Museum stands as a renowned repository comprising over 10,000 original artifacts, spanning from the painful era of the trans-Atlantic slave trade to the vibrant culture of hip hop. Sponsored by Inclusive Excellence	10:30am-3pm: Open to public 12:30-1:30pm: Presentation by Dr. Khalid el-Hakim de Saisset Museum
February 11	Black Joy Celebration at the SCU Men's Basketball Game Game vs. Seattle University Sponsored by the Black/Pan-African Employee Resource Group, Athletics and Inclusive Excellence	7:00pm Leavey Center
February 12	Diversity Works Expo Hosted by the SCU Career Center. Sponsored by Enterprise Mobility	4:00pm - 7:00pm Locatelli Student Activity Center
February 18	Faculty Lunch Time Conversation: Walk through of Jonathan Calm - To Wherever Forever: Archives of Absence & Sites of Passage led by Aparajita Nanda	12:00pm - 12:45pm de Saisset Museum

February 19	Black Joy Celebration - Women's Basketball Game Game vs. St. Mary's, CA Sponsored by the Black/Pan-African Employee Resource Group, Athletics and Inclusive Excellence	6:00pm Leavey Center
February 20	Love Jones Sponsored by Igwebuike (as part of Family Weekend)	7:00pm - 10:00pm Locatelli Student Activity Center
February 25	Hair Love: Part I	5:00pm - 6:30pm Library Taping Room A
February 26	Swans of Harlem - Book Discussion Sponsored by the Office for Multicultural Learning	2:00pm - 4:00pm 832 Market Street (OML)
February 27	GENERATIONS: BLACK LGBTQIA+HISTORY EXPERIENCES – Rooted in Legacy, Rising in Power	6:00pm - 9:00pm Fluid 510 located at 544 Broadway in Oakland Contact: Amy Randall, arandall@scu.edu

If you have any questions about any of the listed events or would like to add an event to be featured, please reach out to Ray Plaza (rplaza@scu.edu) and/or Chris Harris (charris2@scu.edu).

A special thank you to our campus partners:

The Provost’s Office
Inclusive Excellence
SCU Library
Office for Multicultural Learning
Department of Ethnic Studies
SCU Athletics
Black/Pan-African Employee Resource Group (ERG)
University Marketing and Communications (UMC)
Center for Arts and Humanities (CAH)