Celebrating our Campus Community - Black History Month

Written by Hendry Ton, M.D., M.S.
Associate Vice Chancellor, Office for Health Equity Diversity and Inclusion

Curated by Rebecca Jorrin, M.S.
Education Coordinator, Office for Health Equity Diversity and Inclusion

This month we celebrate Black History at the University of California and across the United States. On February 1st University of California President Michael V. Drake, M.D., released a letter to the UC community.

During Black History Month (February 1 – March 1, 2022) please join us to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of Black Americans—listed below are events that can help you get you started. During these celebrations, you may see symbols of a raised fist on celebratory flyers across the community. This is an iconic and global symbol that represent resilience and solidarity against oppression. Yet, some mistakenly conclude that this symbol endorses violence. This could not be farther from the truth. 

Here is a good article on the history of the raised fist as a symbol of freedom against oppression:  "The history of the raised fist, a global symbol of fighting oppression" from National Geographic. 

The misrepresentation of the raised fist as an endorsement of violence highlights the negative bias experienced by minoritized groups, particularly Black communities. Research has shown the Black people are more often inappropriately associated with being violent, even when there is solid evidence to the contrary. These false associations have harmful and even deadly consequences, as we continue to witness in multiple unjustified shootings of Black people across the country. Each of us can do our part to change this. When you hear misinformation about this symbol, please consider challenging and educating--help others to hear and see the call for solidarity against oppression.

This is the time honor and celebrate Black Americans, the time to broaden our knowledge of Black history, AND time for us to stand up against racism, as allies and advocates. To help you do this, the Office of Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion has provided a curated list of educational resources, events, and ways to get involved in support of our local communities.

Black History Month Events:

At UC Davis/UC Davis Health

• Multiple events (February 2nd – 23rd) presented by UC Davis Health African American Faculty and Staff Association. Download the event flyer and register.
• Principles of Community 2022 - month long events. More information. 
• February 10th - Diabetes and the Black Community. Register today. 
• February 11th - Introductory Workshop “Community Academic Partnerships to Advance Equity-Focused Climate Action (CAPECA) introductory workshop. More information.
• February 17th - UC Davis Health African American Faculty and Staff Association monthly meeting. Join this meeting. 
• February 18th - Lung Cancer and the lack Community. Register today. 
• February 23rd - Racial Healing Circle. Resister today.
• Growing as a Community – Racism as a Public Health Crisis webinar recording.
• February 22nd - March 22nd - SAVE-THE-DATE - Principles of Community (opening event on Feb. 2nd).
• Multiple events and resources from UC Davis Cross Cultural Center. More information.

Within the local community  

• Free Sunday - Movie Matinees at the Guild Theatre. Organized by St. Hope. More information.
• Monthly 2nd Saturdays - Let’s Read Oak Park. Organized by St. Hope. More information.
• February 12th - Food Forum for Black Entrepreneurs, Farmers, and Workers. More information.
• February 23rd – 27th - 30th Anniversary Sacramento/Black Art of Dance. Organized by Sacramento State Department of Theatre & Dance College of Arts & Letters. More information.
• February 25th - Pannell Community Center “Salute with Honor and Respect our Black Veteran Heroes”. Organized by Pride Industries. More information.
• February 26th - Black Owned Appreciation Pop-Up Shop. Organized by Syieda Minnifield. More information.

Self-paced education:

• Learn about the origins of Black History Month.
• Do you know why Black History Month is celebrated in February?
• The history of the raised fist, a global symbol of fighting oppression.
• Campus Community Book Project – “How to Be an Antiracist” by Ibram X Kendi.
  • Author visit on Thursday, March 31, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. More information and tickets.
• Growing as a Community webinar series.
• Training and Resources from Safe Black Space
  Includes Cultural Trauma Tool Kit, Mind Body and Spirit Resource Guide, COVID-19 Resources for the African American Community, more at https://www.safeblackspace.org/.
• When and How to Respond to Microaggressions
  Harvard Business Review, July 2020
• Surviving & Resisting Hate: A Toolkit for People of Color
• Family­Care, Community­Care and Self­Care Tool Kit: Healing in the Face of Cultural Trauma
  Association of Black Psychologists
• The Trauma Of Being Black In America
  Podcast show from 1A, WAMU 88.5, distributed by National Public Radio
• COVID-19: Addressing Health Disparities in the African American Community
  A UC Davis Health panel of health care providers address health disparities in the African American community and discussed myths surrounding coronavirus and COVID-19.
• More self-paced education from the Office for Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

Ways to support our local communities:

• Volunteer - List of community volunteer opportunities.
• Refer to the Small and Diverse Chambers of Commerce when searching for a supplier:
  • Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce
  • Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce
  • Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
  • Sacramento Rainbow Chamber of Commerce
  • Davis Chamber of Commerce
  • Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce