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Programs, Library Display, and Black Student Association Events Spotlight Black Voices, Identity, and Resilience

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.鈥擳he observance of Black History Month at Gardner鈥慦ebb University features a series of events and initiatives designed to connect the campus community to the past, celebrate the present, and strengthen relationships. The Office of Campus Unity and Connection, the Black Student Association (BSA), and Dover Library are collaborating to highlight the rich history, culture, and creative contributions of Black Americans.

Dover Library

海角网 Instruction Librarian Katie Hartley has curated a special display featuring new releases from African American authors. She designed the exhibit to showcase a range of voices, spotlighting both emerging writers and well鈥慿nown authors. The goal, she explained, is to give patrons an opportunity to explore diverse perspectives and perhaps discover a new favorite book.

BSA Spirit Week and Events

The Black Student Association is also leading the campus in celebration through Black History Month Spirit Week, held Feb. 9鈥�13, and hosting other events throughout the month. Read more about their events here.

Office of Campus Unity and Connection

Jessika Raduly, director of Campus Unity and Connection, said understanding history is foundational to building a stronger community. 鈥淐elebrating Black History Month at 海角网 is more than learning about history; it is about applying that knowledge to build a more unified and empathetic student body in the present. When students engage with the stories, struggles, and triumphs of Black history makers, they create a shared language of resilience that resonates across all backgrounds.鈥�  

Campus Unity and Connection is offering two additional programs that invite students to explore identity and perseverance through storytelling. Graduate student Alexis Wideman, who helped plan the events, says each one provides space for connection and reflection. Refreshments will be available at both programs while supplies last.

The first event on Feb. 16, 鈥淭he Story We Tell,鈥� will invite participants to create their own quilt square鈥攏o sewing required. Guest speaker, Dr. Simone McIntyre, assistant professor in the Department of Counselor Education, will discuss 鈥淪titches, Strength, and Stories: Honoring Black History Month.鈥� Inspired by the historic significance of quilting in Black communities, this event encourages students to express aspects of their identity, culture, and heritage. The completed squares will later be displayed in Tucker Student Center.

鈥淔or enslaved Black Americans, quilts served not only as a pathway to freedom but also as a powerful way to tell and preserve history within their familial roots,鈥� Wideman explained. 鈥淭his event allows participants to create and share the story they want to tell about who they are, so that each time they pass by the display, they can see their personalized quilt square and be reminded of their identity and story.鈥�

The celebration continues on Feb. 19 with a movie night featuring 鈥淗arriet,鈥� the acclaimed 2019 film starring Cynthia Erivo. The biographical drama highlights Harriet Tubman鈥檚 courage, leadership, and enduring impact on the fight for justice. Wideman describes Tubman as a symbol of resilience and conviction. She described, 鈥淗arriet Tubman demonstrates how faith in God can make the impossible possible. This film also sheds light on the history of slavery and the daily hardships endured by enslaved Black Americans. Regardless of how painful or difficult this history may be, it should never be forgotten, as it shows how resilience in the face of hate and ignorance continues to flow through the veins of Black Americans.鈥�

Together, these programs invite the Gardner鈥慦ebb community to honor Black history in meaningful, multifaceted ways throughout the month of February.

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