“Art is power. Representation is power. And for millennia, humans have fought wars over the right to wield it.”

― Zaria Ware, BLK ART: The Audacious Legacy of Black Artists and Models in Western Art

When distinguished Virginian Carter G. Woodson first established Negro History Week in February 1926, he recognized the value in giving each celebration its own theme to highlight the specific contributions of Black Americans to the story of their country. February has been celebrated nationally as Black History Month since 1976.

In 2024, we are focusing on Black art and artists. Art—music, paintings, poetry, pottery, memoir, theatre, jewelry, fashion, and so much more—transcends all boundaries placed upon it. Art is the theme and event itself. Art is a tool of social justice, and art is a tool of rebellion that compels us to reconsider the history we think we know.

The spirituals sung by enslaved people weren’t just songs of worship—they created communities built on resistance against an unjust system. Conversely, Chevalier de Saint-Georges rose through the ranks of 1770s European society to become the first classical composer of African descent to achieve widespread fame, challenging the version of history that assures us that no Black people lived or thrived in Europe before the 20th century.

Today, painters like Kehinde Wiley, dancers like Misty Copeland, musicians like Megan Thee Stallion actors like Viola Davis, and designers like Aurora James make history before our eyes. They show us that art has the power to ensure a president lives forever; to reimagine what a ballerina looks like; to challenge who deserves the mic, the screentime, the statuette; and to keep our roots alive as we grow into a new day.

Despite art’s power, however, it cannot save us from everything. Black men like Tyre Nichols, an amateur photographer from Memphis, continue to die by police violence. Black women particularly face disproportionate maternal mortality rates, are paid significantly less per hour for the same work, and experience some of the highest rates of violence, especially trans Black women. We can and should create art, and we must continue to challenge the systemic structures that continue to fail Black Americans.

I am thankful we have a Black Cultural Center that, all year round, offers dynamic programming that engages and uplifts in equal measure. We also have incredible partners across campus joining us in this work.

I encourage you to participate and attend the amazing programs planned for Black History Month 2024 at Virginia Tech, including:

  • Feb. 6: Talk: “Mental Health in the African American Community” (sponsored by the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine)
  • Feb. 8: Pamplin School of Business DEIB’s Black History Month Kickback
  • Feb. 10: Black Excellence Gala 
  • Feb. 14: Ebony Women of Excellence
  • Feb. 21: Black History Month Guest Speaker Melissa Proctor, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of the Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena
  • Feb. 22: Screening of Rustin (2023) in the Haymarket Theatre 
  • Feb. 23: Soulful Friday Shop Takeover at Owens Food Court
  • Feb. 24: Uplifting Black Men Conference hosted by the Black Male Excellence Network
  • Feb. 27: Healing Hour for Black Women: Higher Ed and Beyond
  • Feb. 28: The State of the Black Union with President Sands