New Mexico State University will commemorate Black History Month throughout February with special events hosted by NMSU’s Black Student Association, Black Programs, Men of Color Initiative and other campus departments and organizations.
The events will kick off with a Black History Month lunch, sponsored by Sodexo, Black Programs and the Black Student Association. It will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 4 at Taos cafeteria in Corbett Center Student Union. Students with meal plans may partake in the lunch. Faculty or staff who wish to attend should reach out to Black Programs at blackpro@nmsu.edu prior to the meal.
Black Programs, American Indian Programs and the Doña Ana County NAACP chapter will then come together to host a Social Advocacy Luncheon from noon to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 5 at American Indian Student Center. This event is open to NMSU students, faculty and staff at no cost.
A special dance event, “Creative Expression,” will explore music, art, dance and the African American experience from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 7 at Rentfrow Hall dance studio. The event, hosted by the Men of Color Initiative, is free and open to attendees of all dance levels.
Black Programs, along with the Doña Ana County and NMSU NAACP chapters, will host “City Connections” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 8 in the O’Donnell Hall auditorium. City of Las Cruces Manager Ikani Taumoepeau will be the keynote speaker. Students will have an opportunity to ask questions and become better engaged with city officials.
“Loving Abroad” aims to help students understand the Black experience of traveling and studying abroad. The event, hosted by NMSU’s Education Abroad and National Student Exchange, will take place from noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 11 in Corbett Center Student Union’s Senate Chambers on the third floor. Students interested in studying aboard should stop by to learn about available opportunities. A $500 scholarship will also be awarded, which can be used for a program between summer 2025 and summer 2026.
Later that evening, a special screening of “10,000 Black Men Named George” will take place at the historic Fountain Theater in Mesilla. The film follows Union activist Asa Philip Randolph and his efforts to organize Black porters of the Pullman Rail Company during the 1920s. The screening, sponsored by NMSU NEA, NMSU Graduate Student Workers, Black Programs and Africana Studies, runs from 6 to 8 p.m.
“Black Voices at NMSU” will highlight personal stories, address challenges in fostering a sense of identify and belonging, and celebrate the achievements within the Black community at NMSU. This discussion will take place from 11 a.m. to noon Feb. 12 in Corbett Center Student Union’s Doña Ana Room. It is open all students, staff and faculty.
“We will explore strategies for creating an inclusive environment that empowers Black individuals to thrive academically, socially and professionally at NMSU,” said Patrick Turner, associate provost for student academic success and director of the Men of Color Initiative, which will host the discussion with NMSU’s First-Year Initiatives.
NMSU Athletics will then recognize Black Programs and the Black Student Association during the men’s basketball game against Florida International University at 7 p.m. Feb. 15 at the Pan American Center.
Students will get a chance to put their knowledge to the test during NMSU’s first-ever Black History Month Quiz Bowl from 5 to 7 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Conroy Honors College, which will sponsor the event, along with Black Programs and the NMSU NAACP chapter. For more information, contact Desirae Price, NMSU honors student and NMSU NAACP chapter president, at dprice30@nmsu.edu.
The NMSU and Las Cruces communities are invited to learn about the Black Programs archives during the “Preserving Our Story” presentation from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 20 on the third floor of Branson Library. NMSU alumna Lauretta King and Erin Wahl, associate professor in the NMSU Library’s Archives and Special Collections, will be the featured speakers for this event, highlighting their work on this project.
“Cultural Mosaic: Voices and Rhythms of Diversity Variety Show” will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 22 in the Corbett Center Student Union auditorium. The event is a collaboration between the Men of Color Initiative, Black Programs and Latin American Programs.
“The show will celebrate the rich tapestry of diversity. It will feature captivating performances of singing, instrumental music, spoken word and other extraordinary talents that promise an unforgettable evening of artistry and culture,” Patrick said. “The goal is to honor the voices, rhythms, and stories that connect us all.”
The show is free and open to the public.
Black Programs, along with the Doña Ana County and NMSU NAACP chapters, will once again join forces to honor the accomplishments of Black Americans who have made significant contributions to NMSU. Awardees include Fredd Young and Delano Lewis, who have ties to NMSU. Lewis died in 2023. “Celebrating the Firsts” will take place from noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Fulton Center at Aggie Memorial Stadium.
“The local community is invested in our students at NMSU, many of whom are native to our city and our state,” said Bobbie Green, president of the Doña Ana County NAACP chapter. “We are pleased with the partnership that has been cultivated under the leadership of the Black Programs director, Cecil Rose. Black History Month is an opportunity to celebrate the progress we’ve made. Local talent will be on full display during Black History Month, and I am pleased with the overwhelming community support.”
NMSU will conclude Black History Month with a special event honoring the legacy of Marsha P. Johnson, a pioneering Black transgender activist and self-identified drag queen performer. To celebrate Johnson’s contributions to the Black and LGBTQ+ communities, Black Programs, LGBT+ Programs, Residential Life, and the Black and Brown Queer Alliance will cohost a craft night from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 25 at Garcia Hall.
Price, an anthropology student, encouraged fellow students to attend the events throughout February to build community and make connections.
“Our programs across campus work together to create a strong community and a place of inclusivity,” Price said. “Therefore, let’s utilize the opportunity and time we have investing in our NMSU development and community awareness.”
Price added, “It’s important that all students have access to Black Programs educational events in order to share who we are as Black students, mentors and educators; it’s through these shared experiences amongst our NMSU community that we are able to grow together.”
Throughout February, Zuhl Library will have a “Books That Inspire” display, featuring relevant literary works selected by NMSU Black faculty and staff and the Las Cruces community. The NMSU Bookstore has also partnered with the Men of Color Initiative to sell commemorative Black History Month T-shirts.
All events are open to all NMSU students, staff and faculty, as well as community members. For more information, contact Black Programs at blackpro@nmsu.edu or the Men of Color Initiative at moci@nmsu.edu.
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Cutline: New Mexico State University will commemorate Black History Month throughout February with special events hosted by NMSU’s Black Student Association, Black Programs and other campus departments and organizations. (Courtesy)