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To create an environment on NU’s Campus which promotes consciousness

and societal value of individuals of the African Diaspora

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The John D. O’Bryant African-American Institute has come a long way since its early

days amongst the turbulent 1960s. Its history has been one of determination and progress.

Born out of the idea to create an oversight committee for Northeastern’s Black

community, the African-American Institute was established in 1968 to develop and

implement a long-range plan for a genuine, effective and permanent Black presence at

Northeastern University. Throughout the past 40 years, the Institute has developed and

executed Black History Month programs, events and activities. During those years the

initiatives were generally focused inward toward members of the Northeastern and local

African-American community. In addition to focusing on experiences within the African-

American community in 2010, this year, an effort was made to expand and make

available the Black History Month experience for the entire Northeastern community.

All indications are, from attendance and anecdotal feedback, that this year’s Black

History Month expanded program effort was an overwhelming success. This report seeks

to capture not only the process and thinking behind this year’s Black History Month

program, but the expected and unexpected outcomes.

Background

Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by black Americans and a

time for recognizing the central role of African- Americans in U.S. and World history.

The event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Dr. Carter

G. Woodson and other prominent African-Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president

has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries

around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to

celebrating black history.1

In celebration of Black History Month, Northeastern University’s Cultural and

Residential Life division developed a committee of individuals in concert with the John

D. O’Bryant African-American institute to develop Black History Month programming

for the entire university community. The Black History Month Committee (BHMC) was

comprised of 16 individuals from various departments across the university, primarily

under the division of Student Affairs. Each member of the committee was tasked with

engaging students, co-workers, and community members to become a part of the

university’s Black History Month planning process. The committee’s efforts yielded

well-attended events and broadened university awareness of the local and global

contributions of African-Americans. In order to promote unity among the committee

and to provide direction for future committees the following were developed:

1. Vision Statement (Programming and Committee)

2. Mission Statement (To Be Used each Year)

3. Weekly Themes

4. Types of Events

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Vision Statement for Black History Month

To celebrate the history, contributions, and global impact of people of the African

Diaspora.!!

Mission Statement for the Black History Month Committee

To create an environment on NU’s Campus which promotes consciousness and societal

value of individuals of the African Diaspora, by providing opportunities to all members

of the campus community by making connections, inspiring, educating, celebrating the

richness of Black History.

Black History Month Themes

The BHMC decided to establish a theme and focus for each week of Black History

Month. The themes were intended concentrate the Black History Month activities of both

the Institute and the students. The themes were as follows:

Week 1 – Connect (2/1 -2/6 ) Connecting the Past with the Present

Week 2 – Educate (2/7 -2/13) Educating our campus and community

Week 3 – Inspire (2/14 -2/20) Inspiring the NU Community

Week 4 – Celebrate (2/22 -2/27) Celebrating the rich history and future

Types of Events (5) – The BHMC categorized five different types of events of varying

scale in order to reach a vast array of individuals

Big Events – 500 – 1000 Individuals

Small Events – 25 – 50 Individuals

Community Events – 15+ Community Members

University Awareness – Publicity around campus

JDOAAI Signature Events – Range from 50 to 200 participants

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Big Events – Harlem Renaissance Play – The Oscar Micheaux Family Theater Program

at the Blackman Theater performed the Harlem Renaissance with a Gospel Flavor on

February 5th. The play captivated the audience with an artistic interpretation of the

Harlem Renaissance period. The play had an attendance of approximately 500 students,

community members, and university staff and faculty.

Small Events – Guest Speaker – Bakari Kitwana author of “The Hip Hop Culture”

conducted a 90 min lecture and Q&A on the impact of the Hip Hop Culture on society.

The event attracted about 30 students and community members.

Coast-to-Coast Conversations – The Coast to Coast Conversations consisted of three

90min roundtable forums on issues affecting individuals of the African Diaspora. The

discussions focused on connecting cultures in the African and African-American

community, Education in the African American Community, and Inspiration in the

African American Community.

The John D. O’Bryant African American Institute

& Northeastern Black Student Association

&

The play, performed by the Oscar Micheaux Family Theater Program and written by community activist Haywood

Fennell, Sr. is set in the Harlem Renaissance Era. Mr. Fennell is quick to explain that Harlem was not the only location

for this social and artistic phenomenon known as the Harlem Renaissance, it was happening in several cities across the

United States including Boston. The Harlem Renaissance Revisited With a Gospel Flavor captivates audiences through

song, dance and telling a story that you will never forget; it’s a must see.

FEBRUARY 5 , 2010 BLACKMAN AUDITORIUM

7 :00PM

P R E S E N T :

Free Admission

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Celebration (Planned by Ujima Scholars) - Black History Month concluded with a

celebration of the richness of Black History through song, dance, speeches, skits, and

food. The celebration yielded over 150 participants.

Community Events – School Engagement (Program @ Orchard Gardens Pilot School)

(20) – Cancelled – (We were scheduled to talk about the importance of Black History)

Community Program (Black History and Identity) (30) University Awareness – An extra effort was made to reach out across campus to

publicize and advertise the Black History Month events. The promotions include

Next Graphics Promo Pack (Club Cards, Flyers)

Posters (Celebrating Black History Month Around Campus) * Printed by RD’s

Publicity & Flyers (Event Marketing)

Plasma Screens (Event Information)

JDOAAI Signature Events – The John D. O’Bryant African-American Institute

continued its Black History Month signature events that include:

Recognition Ceremonies (2) – The Black History Recognition Luncheons were designed

and developed two years ago by the director to honor those individuals on campus that

don’t normally receive recognition, but have contributed to and support the Institute. The

recognition ceremonies were conducted on Feb.3 & Feb. 10 at the Cabral Center. Each

ceremony honored and celebrated the contributions of NU staff & faculty of African-

American descent. The Recognition Luncheons were well attended by University staff,

faculty, students, and community members. Our honorees with over 142 years of

combined service to Northeastern University included:

Dean Ella Robertson, Retired Associate Director of Special Support Services – 30yrs

Sherman Hart, Head Track Coach – 22yrs

Barry Martinez, Northeastern University Police Department – 40yrs

Allean Beane, Student Activities Business Office – 19yrs

Denise Young Howard, Coordinator for Purchasing Systems – 31yrs

Oratory Competition – On Tuesday February 16, 2010 the JDOAAI hosted the Annual

Dean Roland E. Latham Oratory competition. The competition featured 8 students whose

topics focused on current events questions addressing the following: Health Care Reform,

Death Penalty, Ending Poverty, Hip Hop, Domestic Violence, Education, Haiti, and

Black Student Enrollment at Northeastern. The event drew about 35 students and

community members.

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Black Inventors Exhibit – The Annual Black Inventors exhibit showcased the local and

global contributions of African and African American Inventors. The exhibit includes

models and sometimes actually pieces of the inventions.

Institute Display – In order to increase awareness of Black History Month, institute staff

created history displays throughout the Institute. The displays consisted of pictures,

brochures, event flyers, event calendars, and TV monitors with Black History

programming. (Videos were changed on a daily basis).

Learning Outcomes & Goals – The BHMC

Learning Outcomes (Waiting for Survey Distribution & Results)

1. Students, staff, and faculty will be able to apply knowledge learned from Black

History programming to new experiences.

2. Students, staff, and faculty will be able to articulate the local and global

contributions of people of the African Diaspora.

3. Students, staff, and faculty will understand how cultural identity and

differences impact perspectives and relationships with others.

Participation Goals and Actual – The BHMC set attendance goals for each event and in

most cases met or exceeded the attendance goals.

2/3 2/4 2/5 2/9 2/10 2/16 2/17 2/22 2/23 2/24 Total

Goal

Range

50-

100

25-

50

500-

1000

25-

50

50-

100

25-50 25-50 100-

200

25-50 100-

200

925-

1850

Actual 80 30 500+ 40 80 60 20 150 35 150 1145

Table 1.0 – BHMC Participation numbers/Day

Evaluation Tools – For the Black History Month Programming for Northeastern

University we used the following types of evaluation:

1. Goals-Based Evaluation (Mission Statement for Year 1 more specific goals for

each additional)

2. Process-Based Evaluation (How do we plan and execute Black History Month?) –

Committee & Student Groups

3. Outcomes-Based Evaluation (Is the programming effective?) – Participant

Surveys

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Budget Information – The fiduciary responsibility was shared between Student Affairs,

Residential and Cultural Life, and The John D. O’Bryant African-American Institute.

Below is the budget information for Northeastern’s Black History Month 2010:

Black History Month Overall Budget

Projected

Student Affairs/Res Life

University Awareness & Publicity 5,000

Power Luncheon 2,500

Celebration 2,000

Sub-Total 9,500

Student Groups (NBSA, Minority Grad Students)

Harlem Renaissance w/

Gospel Flavor 7,000

Hip Hop Guest Speaker 6,500

Power Luncheon 1,500

Community Program 0

Sub-Total 15,000

JDOAAI

Recognition Ceremony 2,500

Oratory Competition 4,400

Black Inventors 2,200

School Engagement 0

Sub-Total 9,100

Total Cost $33,600

Black History Month Overall Budget

Actual

Student Affairs/Res Life

University Awareness & Publicity 0

Power Luncheon 0

Celebration 1108.16

Sub-Total 1108.16

Student Groups (NBSA, Minority Grad Students)

Harlem Renaissance w/

Gospel Flavor 7,000

Hip Hop Guest Speaker 6,500

Power Luncheon 0

Community Program 0

Sub-Total 13,500

JDOAAI

Recognition Ceremony 4083.85

Oratory Competition 4215

Black Inventors 1900

School Engagement 0

Sub-Total 10,198.85

Total Cost $24,807.01

General Ideas and Recommendations for Next Year

• Budget confirmed at the beginning of fiscal year

• Committee selected in the spring of prior year

• Identify a point person for each event

• Co-Chairs for the committee

• Add program listing in Huntington News

• Highlight events early in planning process for President to attend

• Develop a planning Calendar * See Below

Events for Next Year

• Power Luncheon (Mentoring)

• Cultural Celebration (Fashion, Food, Fun)

• Art Display in 360 Art Gallery for the Month

• Research Expo

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Recommended Black History Month Committee Planning Calendar

February – Execution of Black History Month

March – Final Report Submitted

April – Selection of New Committee (Luncheon – Talk about Black

History Month and Get to know Each Other)

May – Committee Watch a Video on Black History Month and Discuss

Dates (Send Dates and Info to Print and to be included in fall

literature.

June – Committee Assignments

July – Contracts for Major Events - Get approval for all flyers

August – Design & Print Flyers and Info for Orientations and Welcome

Weeks

September – Meet with Student Groups and Departments & Develop a

University Wide Calendar.

- Begin Weekly Meetings (Late September)

October – Continue Weekly Meetings

November – Finalize All Literature, Dates, and Info to be printed. Before

Thanksgiving. * Create brief video for Kwanza, MLK

Convocation, and Website *

December – Kwanza – Publicity for Black History Month * Show Video *

January – MLK Convocation – Video and All Black History Month (Is

Black History still Relevant & Why – It’s relevance on the

International Experience

February - 20 Events of Black History