BSU leads black history month at samo

Ashley Ballantine / The Samohi

The executive board of Black Student Union after a lunch meeting.

Many have familiarized themselves with Black History Month, which spans 28 days and recognizes Black contributions often ignored by history. It originated in 1926 as Negro History Week, founded by historian Carter G. Woodson and celebrated in February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. In recognition of its 100th anniversary this year, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) has deemed the official Black History Month 2026 theme as "A Century of Black History Commemorations."

Black History Month celebrates the rich heritage and significant contributions of Black Americans to U.S. history, providing a focused time to acknowledge often overlooked achievements, cultural impact and struggles for equality. Black excellence in science, arts, leadership and beyond is highlighted to challenge stereotypes and promote a more complete understanding of American history.

Samo’s representation runs deep through clubs and programs, like the Black Student Union (BSU). Their mission is to spread Black culture and curate a space full of community for Black students on campus. 

BSU meets every Wednesday so students have a place to eat lunch, pitch ideas for events and future endeavors, have a good time, play games and have open conversations. BSU is a hands-on club and strives to have as many events as time will allow to engage the community.

Joseph Bowers Disney (’27), BSU parliamentarian, hopes that all students feel comfortable engaging in the club. 

“BSU is not just for Black students. It's for people that want to be allies as well,” Disney said.

BSU club president Aubrille Gomez (’26) described the importance of a safe and engaging place for students on campus.

“I hope that we’re a space where people can talk and feel welcome, without the feeling that coming to the club is a chore,” Gomez said. 

A highlighted event held in Samo’s very own Barnum Hall is Apollo night. This special event has been held annually by BSU for close to a decade and gives students the opportunity to perform a variety of unique acts in the presence of friends and family.

“Apollo night brings students, staff and the wider community together,” she said.

Another way in which Samo is participating in Black History Month is through a themed spirit week with a four to five day duration in celebration of the Black presence on campus. Each spirit week has varying themes but always includes a few constants. Culture day is a celebrated theme to open up participation to all students on campus where everyone can participate. Along with this is a Black out Friday, a day where students are encouraged to wear all Black in recognition of the Black population on campus. Past themes also include jersey days and past decades days. BSU’s goal with their spirit week is to represent Black culture as a whole and the Black media that surrounds it.

"Most people would say, including myself, that Samo is a PWI (predominantly white institution) and doesn't have all the representation we could,” Gomez said. 

To her, representation is important because it provides the complete, accurate and important narrative not often seen. BSU works to address a lack of representation for students on campus. 

“There are groups here that aren’t getting the representation that they need, because there are so little of them, a club like BSU makes it so we’re represented more,” Disney said.

To celebrate Black History Month, people are actively learning by reading Black authors, watching documentaries, visiting museums and immersing themselves in culture. Supporting the community through Black owned businesses, cultural events and volunteering for relevant nonprofits ensures focus on authentic history and present day impact. It's about celebrating achievements, learning from the past and committing to continued education and advocacy beyond February. 

While Black History Month is celebrated nationally through events and formal programs, Gomez and her family recognize the month in less traditional ways. 

“I know in my home we’re not very traditional, we like to celebrate in different ways,” Gomez said. "Music is a very important factor in our lives, so we like to acknowledge a lot of music and then also different media, like Black artists and Black films.”

For Disney, the importance of Black History Month is tied to remembering the experiences of past generations.

“[Black History Month] is not necessarily a celebration for me, but it's a celebration for my ancestors that were brought here,” Disney said.