Throughout the month of February, St. Thomas has been celebrating Black History Month with discussions, a poetry slam, a play and more.

Black History Month began as a single week in February and expanded to the entire month in 1976, according to the Library of Congress website. Student Diversity and Inclusion Services organized the month’s events, which aim to celebrate and raise awareness of black culture, according to Education Program Director Jessica Gjerdi.

“We are celebrating, but we’re also trying to educate. So if you don’t know a lot about black history or black culture, coming to our events is a great way to educate yourself,” Gjerdi said.

Associate Dean of Students Patricia Conde-Brooks agreed and said an extra effort to learn about minority groups is sometimes needed.

“It’s a nice chance (to) … give people time to inform themselves better about the history they have brought to this nation, because typically it has not been acknowledged in the classroom,” Conde-Brooks said.

One such event, Culture Stew’s “Natural Hair,” facilitated a discussion of the issues surrounding African-American hair. Sociology and criminal justice professor Buffy Smith and English professor Todd Lawrence, along with sophomore Michelle Miller, led the conversation regarding the political, cultural and historical implications of hair.

During slavery in the United States, for example, slaves were often distinguished by the nature of their hair with certain hair types being more desirable, a standard that still exists today, according to Lawrence. Gaining in popularity, however, is the natural hair movement, in which people who previously used hair chemicals now let their hair grow naturally. The movement is one in which people can wear their hair however they choose without judgement, according to Lawrence and Miller.

“As someone who has gone natural and has been natural since her senior year of high school, I just think it’s really important – like I said in the dialogue – that people understand what (natural hair) is and what it means,” Miller said. “I feel like there’s a lot of mystery … and ignorance that surrounds it.”

Speakers at the event stressed the importance of understanding the historic undertones of various hairstyles and how they play into black culture today.

Student Diversity and Inclusion Services also hosted a performance of Mixed Blood Theatre’s “African America,” an exploration of African culture.

Last Friday, Black Empowerment Student Alliance held a slam poetry contest to both celebrate Black History Month and honor the Black Lives Matter movement.

“We’re fortunate enough to get to work with many of the students who see this as an opportunity for them to provide this information and give St. Thomas the opportunity to learn about the richness of their cultures,” Conde-Brooks said.

Elena Neuzil can be reached at neuz3833@stthomas.edu.