Black History Month has long been part of campus life at Averett University, and February continued that tradition through student-led cultural spaces. Student organizations created environments where students of color could gather without pressure to justify who they are. Many students described those spaces as places where people participated openly and leaned into the experience.
Junior Kiera Perkins, a business major, came into Black History Month paying attention to who led the month and what the spaces were built for. She described student-led cultural organizations as the part that made February different on a predominantly white campus. The month raised a bigger question about whether this same level of care carries into the rest of the year.
“I like what happens in February,” Perkins said. “I just want that same attention the rest of the year.”
The way some events were arranged made it easier for students to attend and participate. During the Good Feel Good event, Valentine’s Day was recognized through treat giveaways while Black History Month activities continued in the same space, so neither was pushed aside. Students could receive goodie bags, connect with health services and counseling staff, and get free haircuts for all hair types. This setup supported student wellness and kept Black History Month from being treated as something set apart from campus life.
Game and Trivia Night carried the same focus on participation, just in a lighter setting. Team games and friendly competition gave students an easy way to join in and interact with people outside their usual circles. Prizes and music kept the room moving, but the African dance performances drew the strongest response. Students gathered closer and responded with a level of respect that showed the cultural meaning was understood. Perkins described that section of the night as one of the parts that stayed with her most because it brought the room together.
“Some people treat it like entertainment,” Perkins said. “I want them to understand it’s bigger than that.”
Perkins believes the month holds the most value when the care shown in February does not disappear once the calendar changes.
Members of the campus community did an excellent job creating an environment where Black History Month was handled with respect and strong intention. The events gave students a space to participate, learn, and be present without the pressure that can come with being on a predominantly white campus. February demonstrated what is possible when that kind of space is made on purpose. The next step is making sure the campus carries that same care beyond February so that it becomes part of everyday campus life and continues year-round.
