Black History Month @ Harvard Business School
Emily Anadu (NE) and Damaune Journey (NE), Special Contributors
Issue date: 3/15/04 Section: News
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This was the first year the African-American Student Union (AASU) sponsored a month long celebration of black history at HBS in honor of the nationally recognized Black History Month (BHM) which is held each February. This year's celebration involved three signature events that highlighted key areas of black history and culminated in the 32nd Annual H. Naylor Fitzhugh Conference. The events were intended to increase awareness about the contributions that African-Americans have made in the US, as well as the challenges they have overcome throughout history.
To begin the month, the AASU sponsored a viewing of Four Little Girls, the Spike Lee movie which details the events surrounding the 1963 bombing of a church in Birmingham, Alabama that led to the death of four innocent young girls. The horrible nature of this crime helped to draw the nation's attention to the severe problems of racism in this country. The film viewing was attended by approximately 40 students and included a healthy discussion concerning the issues presented by the film.
In the following weeks, members of the AASU organized presentations for each of the RC sections. The section presentations documented a more complete look at the history of Blacks in this country starting with slavery and leading up to the present day. These presentations were very well received and provided a much needed look into the African-American experience. Some of the highlights were detailed overviews of the civil rights movement and the recent accomplishments of Blacks in business.
These included the mention of Black executives who are at Fortune 500 firms and are also HBS alums, like Stan O'Neal, CEO of Merrill Lynch, Ann Fudge, CEO of Young & Rubicam, and Pamela Thomas-Graham, CEO of CNBC. Some sections provided lunch catered by Boston Soul Food Restaurants to add to the cultural experience.
An important event of the Black History Month programming was the Sankofa celebration which highlighted the different heritage of blacks in America - African American, African, and Caribbean. Attendees were treated to a night of food and performances which highlighted the diversity of the black diaspora.
To begin the month, the AASU sponsored a viewing of Four Little Girls, the Spike Lee movie which details the events surrounding the 1963 bombing of a church in Birmingham, Alabama that led to the death of four innocent young girls. The horrible nature of this crime helped to draw the nation's attention to the severe problems of racism in this country. The film viewing was attended by approximately 40 students and included a healthy discussion concerning the issues presented by the film.
In the following weeks, members of the AASU organized presentations for each of the RC sections. The section presentations documented a more complete look at the history of Blacks in this country starting with slavery and leading up to the present day. These presentations were very well received and provided a much needed look into the African-American experience. Some of the highlights were detailed overviews of the civil rights movement and the recent accomplishments of Blacks in business.
These included the mention of Black executives who are at Fortune 500 firms and are also HBS alums, like Stan O'Neal, CEO of Merrill Lynch, Ann Fudge, CEO of Young & Rubicam, and Pamela Thomas-Graham, CEO of CNBC. Some sections provided lunch catered by Boston Soul Food Restaurants to add to the cultural experience.
An important event of the Black History Month programming was the Sankofa celebration which highlighted the different heritage of blacks in America - African American, African, and Caribbean. Attendees were treated to a night of food and performances which highlighted the diversity of the black diaspora.