UM-Flint kicks off Black History Month celebration with keynote speech by Darnell L. Moore

This February, the University of Michigan-Flint continues its commitment to uplifting the culture, history, and voices of Black Americans by celebrating Black History Month. The month's programming began Feb. 4 with a keynote speech from author and activist Darnell L. Moore. 

"Each year, we celebrate Black History Month at UM-Flint and feature a keynote that is free and open to the public," said David Luke, UM-Flint's chief diversity officer. "This year, our keynote is a collaboration with the university's Common Read program as author Darnell L. Moore came to campus to engage with staff and students around the themes from his memoir, 'No Ashes in the Fire.' In addition, several offices and student organizations on campus will make a deliberate effort to highlight contributions of Black people in the U.S. that may otherwise be overlooked."

The Common Read program emphasizes the importance of reading to higher education and an informed and enriched life, to make possible conversations and relationships based on the shared reading experience, and to integrate the campus into national and global culture and discussions. This year, the program highlights Moore's memoir, which relates his childhood and personal struggles with identity as both Black and queer during his time growing up in the 1980s. 

"There are ways people can come together and fortify in the midst of struggles," said Moore during his keynote speech. "It takes all of us to develop the foundation for a world where all people can exist. I had to fight to be here, no matter any proliferation of lies which told me not to be."

Moore's work highlights the importance of family, community and personal growth when faced with adversity and encourages readers to uplift the people around them who are hurting the most. "No matter what was going on inside or outside of our house, we never turned our backs on each other," said Moore. "My family refused to disenfranchise those who had already been disenfranchised."

"A lot of people assume the work behind celebrating Black History Month has to come from the university's Intercultural Center when it doesn't," said LaQwana Dockery, assistant director of the ICC. Each year a variety of departments collaborate to find new ways of celebrating Black history, such as further discussion of "No Ashes in the Fire," trivia, networking events, and the 5th annual Iqbal Symposium on Islamic Thought and Civilization, featuring speaker Dawud Walid. Numerous workshops meant to uplift Black voices will also be available throughout the month, including "Queerness in Color", a monthly series hosted by the Center for Gender and Sexuality which focuses on queer people of color, offering them a space to share their experiences and be themselves.

Dockery says one of the best ways people can celebrate Black History Month is by supporting Black entrepreneurs. "Flint has several Black-owned bookstores, you can visit a Black-owned business, listen to a podcast run by Black creators, or watch a movie by a Black director," said Dockery. "Those are small things that don't cost a lot, but you can learn something and see things from a different perspective that way. Our library has a lot of great books and media, so I suggest asking the staff there where you can start." 

A full listing of the month's events is available on Campus Connections.