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February is Black History Month, a time dedicated to highlighting the history, achievements and contributions of African Americans. Throughout history, generations of Black alumni, students, faculty, and staff have strengthened the SIU community in countless ways, breaking down barriers, driving innovation, and expanding opportunities for all.
Join together with Salukis this February in recognition of Black History Month by supporting programs serving the Black student community at SIU and honoring the rich history of Black Salukis.
Black History Month is an annual February observance, celebrating past and present achievements of African Americans. In 1926, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, proposed the establishment of "Negro History Week" to honor the history and contributions of African Americans to American life. Woodson, known as the "Father of Black History," chose the second week of February because it commemorates birthdays of two men who greatly affected the African American community: Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 12) and Frederick Douglass (Feb. 14). Negro History Week became Black History Week in the early 1970s. In 1976, the week-long observance was expanded to a month in honor of the nation's bicentennial.
