Black History Month 2024

Black History Month is celebrated from Feb. 1 through March 1. The month commemorates the many contributions, cultural influences and achievements made by African Americans.

Celebrating Black history began with Harvard-trained historian Carter G. Woodson. To raise awareness of African American contributions, Woodson announced Negro History Week within the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), in 1925, according to blackhistorymonth.gov. The week was celebrated in February to include the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Negro History Week received positive feedback, with many teachers expressing excitement to teach Black history to their students.

When Woodson died in 1950, Negro History Week had become a major part of African American life. Many mayors of major cities nationwide issued proclamations recognizing Negro History Week.

During the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s, the contributions and achievements of African Americans became increasingly well known.

In 1973, ASNLH was renamed the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History (ASALH).

The celebration became a month in 1976, with President Gerald R. Ford telling Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected, accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” That year, the ASALH commemorated the first Black History Month. Since then, every American president has issued Black History Month proclamations. The ASALH promotes Black history all year!

Triton Events

Triton College is proudly celebrating Black History Month with some events around campus:

Black History Leadership Symposium
Wednesday, Feb. 21
11 a.m.
Triton College Library, Main Commons, A Building

The Black History Student Leadership Symposium will highlight Triton student leaders and their many accomplishments. Students will speak on what leadership means to them with respect to Black history. Prepare to be inspired!

Soulful Heritage: Embracing Black History
Wednesday, Feb. 21
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Room B-204, B Building

Honor this special month by playing two rounds of Kahoot featuring Black History Trivia for a chance to win a $25 Visa or MasterCard gift card. The celebration will also feature a tasting of authentic soul food (while supplies last) and more!

This event is sponsored by the Office of Student Life, Black Student Union (B.S.U.), and TRIUMPH and SURGE.

Roosevelt Middle School Band Performance
Thursday, Feb. 22
Noon-1 p.m.
Student Center Cafeteria, B Building

Triton College is commemorating Black History Month with a special performance from the Roosevelt Middle School band of Bellwood School District 88.

The performance will highlight African-American composers. Band students will share a history of the composer and song.

Musical instruments showcased will include drums, electric piano, tubas, horns, percussion and trumpets.

Light food will be served.

For more information, email pdc@triton.edu.

The Triton College Library Features the “Now Showing” Movie Series

Making Black America Through the Grape Vine
Thursday, Feb. 1
Room A-215 at 2 p.m.
Triton College Library, A Building

Barack Obama on Fatherhood, Leadership and Legacy
Thursday, Feb. 15
Room A-215 at 2 p.m.
Triton College Library, A Building

We Will Rise: Michelle Obama’s Mission to Educate Girls Around the World
Thursday, Feb. 29
Room A-215 at 2 p.m.
Triton College Library, A Building

The Library will also feature a decorated Black History Month book display (third floor) for the month of February.

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Black History Month Alumni Spotlight

Dr. Tammara Trice

Dr. Tammara Trice has been a registered nurse for 25 years and, for 20 of those years, she has held leadership roles. Today, she is a registered nurse (RN) manager of Clinical Operations at Rush University Medical Center. For Dr. Trice, Triton College was a life-changing “steppingstone” that led to her career success.

“Being a Triton College alum is a great honor and I’m proud to tell people that Triton was the steppingstone to my becoming (a) professional,” said Dr. Trice. “Triton College professors and counselors are the ones who took the time to help me balance my education, work and home life to become the success that I am. Triton’s evening classes were my saving grace.”

Dr. Trice began her Triton College experience in 1987. As a teenage mother, she had difficulty getting to high school regularly due to unreliable childcare. Her school counselor at Proviso West High School told her about a partnership with Triton College that allowed her to take two college courses at night, which fulfilled her high school graduation requirements. This Triton opportunity kept her from dropping out of high school.

After high school, she enrolled in Triton College’s Basic Nursing Assistant Program held on weekends. Dr. Trice successfully completed the program and began working full time as a nursing assistant while attending Triton part time in the evenings.

In 1995, Dr. Trice graduated with an Associate in Applied Science in nursing from Triton. After nine years working as a nurse, she endeavored to further her education. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, and, in 2008, she earned an Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Phoenix. In 2013, Dr. Trice returned to Triton and completed the Basic Nursing Assistant Instructor Program. In 2017, she completed her doctoral studies in nursing at Chamberlain University.

Following her education, Dr. Trice began a nonprofit organization in 2019 called Advancing Intellectual Minds (AIM) Professional Coaching & Mentoring. The organization enables her to coach and mentor individuals interested in pursuing health care careers. She also creates and revises resumes, provides interviewing techniques and teaches test-taking strategies.

As a member of Triton’s Alumni Association Council, Dr. Trice looks forward to serving as a resource and means of support to students. She said she’s looking forward to the collaboration with other council members for student events and initiatives.

Dr. Trice resides in Hillside with her husband and 4-year-old rottweiler Caesar. She has three adult children and a 12-year-old grandson.

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In-District Black History Month Gatherings

Black Chicago Renaissance
Monday, Feb. 5
6:30-8 p.m.
Bellwood Public Library
600 Bohland Ave.
Bellwood

Shatterin Rules, Making Moves: The History of Black Comics and Black Comic Creators
Thursday, Feb. 8
6:30 p.m.
Maywood Public Library
121 S. Fifth Ave.
Maywood

Black History Month with Shanta Nurullah
Tuesday, Feb. 20
6:30 p.m.
Bellwood Public Library
600 Bohland Ave.
Bellwood

Black History Month Celebration
Saturday, Feb. 24
8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Roosevelt Middle School
2500 Oak St.
Bellwood

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Other Black History Month Gatherings

Black by Popular Demand: Maker’s Choice
Tuesday, Feb. 6
4-5 p.m.
Chicago Public Library
9525 S. Halsted St.
Chicago

Chicago Black Restaurant Weeks
Sunday, Feb. 11-Sunday, Feb. 25
Check Website for Schedule, Events and Restaurants

Paint and Sip Hot Cocoa for Black History Month
Wednesday, Feb. 21
4-5:30 p.m.
Lozano
1805 S. Loomis St.
Chicago

Black Creativity Career Showcase
Saturday, Feb. 24
9:30 a.m.- 2:30 p.m.
Museum of Science and Industry
5700 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive
Chicago

Celebrate Black Joy with Nanny Nikki
Sunday, Feb. 25
2-3 p.m.
Chicago Public Library
Rogers Park
6907 N. Clark St.
Chicago

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Black-Owned Restaurants and Businesses

Support Black-Owned Restaurants:

Support Black-Owned Businesses:

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Black Books and Authors

Authors/Illustrators - Young Readers

  • The Sun Is Also a Star - Nicola Yoon (Author)
  • The People Could Fly - Virginia Hamilton (Author), Leo Dillon (Illustrator), Diane Dillon Ph.D. (Illustrator)
  • Hair Love - Matthew A. Cherry (Author), Vashti Harrison (Illustrator)
  • My Beautiful, Brown-Skinned Girl - Dr. Anticia M Alston, Dr. Henry R Alston Sr, et al.

Authors - Adult

  • Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual - Luvvie Ajayi Jones
  • The Color Purple - Alice Walker
  • Beloved - Toni Morrison

More Contributions

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