Statement from Dr. Isom on Black History Month 2023

Black History Month is a time to reflect on and celebrate the history, culture, and contributions of African Americans in the United States - and yet we as a nation are entering the month grieving the loss of life to gun violence in so many communities of color, and wrenching at the latest horrific display of police brutality against a member of the Black community. When Carter G. Woodson created Black History Week in 1926, one of its chief aims was to assure the teaching of Black history, and yet today Black leaders are working to overturn Florida’s state education department’s move to eliminate AP African American Studies courses on the erroneous grounds that they, “…significantly lack educational value.”

It is clear why this year’s Black History Month’s theme is “Black Resistance,” which the National Museum of African American History expanded to “Black Resistance: A Journey to Equality.”

The museum’s extension of the theme reflects African American history itself. Our nation has, throughout time, witnessed the Black community resist injustice, resist efforts to de-humanize, resist oppression - not simply as an effort against, but as a movement towards. A movement towards equality, and towards justice, and towards a better future – and a movement always empowered by hope.

So, I welcome you to Black History Month and invite you to celebrate and reflect on the history, culture, and contributions of African Americans, and to join the movement towards a better tomorrow for us all.

This month there are numerous events, fueled with that spirit, that we can connect around, including:

Black Legacy – Jan. 29-Feb. 9 – A series of events for Cal Poly students, staff, faculty, community members and alumni organized by the Black Faculty and Staff Association.

United by Excellence -– Feb. 3 – An Admissions Office event bringing over 400 local Black high school students to campus.

Black History Month Kick-Off – Feb. 3 –  A celebration of Black culture in UU Plaza featuring food, music, performances, and tabling by campus and community organizations, coordinated by the Black Academic Excellence Center.

7th Annual Social Justice Teach In – Feb. 9 – Featuring a Keynote address by “Whistling Vivaldi” author, Claude Steele, and Dr. Steele in conversation with Dr. Julie Garcia, Psychology & Child Development – co-sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts and the Office of University Diversity & Inclusion.

State of Blackness – Feb. 16 – an annual panel event that centers the experiences of Black/African American students, staff, and faculty on campus organized by Student Diversity & Belonging and the Black Academic Excellence Center.

Black Hair Matters – Feb. 23 – a collaborative event hosted by the Diversity Coalition of SLO Countyand R.A.C.E. Matters, featuring Myraline Morris Whiataker and a panel of speakers including SLO City Mayor, Erica Stewart and Cal Poly Student, Nailah DuBose, founder of “Braids by Nai.”

And a number of extraordinary Cal Poly Arts events from The Voices of Mississippi on February 1, to a performance of “An Untitled Love” by acclaimed choreographer, Kyle Abraham on February 9.

Join us! 

Dr. Denise Isom
Interim Vice President for Diversity & Inclusion / CDO