Bemidji State University is joining communities across the nation to honor and celebrate the history and accomplishments of African Americans throughout this Black History Month.
“It’s important to celebrate Black History Month because it helps us to know that all of our history isn’t painful,” said associate professor of business and newly-elected Bemidji School Board member Dr. Gabriel Warren.
“We get a chance to highlight the amazing people who have helped move our country forward, which inspires future generations to recognize that they too are making Black history by the way they live their lives.”
Upcoming Black History Month Events:
- Feb. 2 – Black Student Union Podcast: Opening Episode
- Feb. 9, 7 p.m. – Did You Know?
- Feb. 16, 6:30 p.m. – Pursue Grace: Racial Reconciliation with guest speaker, Michelle Torbor
- Feb. 23, 4:30 p.m. – BSU Community Conversations: A conversation about diversity, equity and inclusion in our communities
- Feb. 23, 7 p.m. – Everything You Wanted to Know About Being Black but Were Afraid to Ask
To impart knowledge and inspire critical thinking across campus, faculty in Bemidji State’s Department of Psychology recently compiled a list of resources that encourages audiences to challenge racist beliefs and policies by learning about white supremacy and antiracism.
Suggested Black/African American movies
- “13th” (2016) available on Netflix.
- “Atlanta” (2016) available on Hulu.
- “Black Panther” (2018) available on Hulu.
- “Do the Right Thing” (1989).
- “For Colored Girls” (2010) available on Netflix.
- “Get Out” (2017).
- “Greenleaf” (2016) available on Netflix.
- “Precious” (2009).
- “Moonlight” (2016) available on Netflix.
- “When They See Us” (2019) available on Netflix.
Suggested websites that focus on experiences of Black, Indigenous and people of color:
- Bitch Magazine.
- Black Girl Dangerous.
- Colorlines.
- Crunk Feminist Collective.
- The Root.
- Wear Your Voice Magazine.
Suggested written resources:
- “A Black Woman’s History of the United States” by Daina Ramey Berry and Kali Nicole Gross.
- “How to Be an Antiracist” by Ibram X. Kendi.
- “Me and White Supremacy“ by Layla F. Saad.
- “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander.
- “So You Want to Talk About Race” by Ijeoma Oluo.
- “White Like Me: Reflections of Race from a Privileged Son” by Tim Wise
- “What does it mean to be White: Developing White Racial Literacy” by Robin DiAngelo
- “White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk about Race” by Robin DiAngelo.
- “Waking Up White and Finding Myself in a Story of Race” by Debra Irving.
Suggested resources for those personally impacted by injustice:
- Beltrami County Mobile Crisis Team: 1-800-422-0045 (available 24/7)
- National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
- Finding a therapist of color.
- Research findings about mental health issues in Black communities.
- NAMI — suggestions and options for Black Americans experiencing mental health challenges.
- Association of Black Psychologists.
