Celebrating Black History Month at USC

USC Celebrates Black History Month

“Now more than ever, Black History Month remains relevant because it sets aside time for us to learn and reflect upon the ways this history highlights the ideals and failures of the U.S. experiment with democracy. Through social movements and political and cultural traditions, the Black community has engaged notions of freedom and equality since its founding.”

Elaine Bell Kaplan, USC Dornsife Professor of Sociology
Black History Month at USC

USC’s Black History Month Kickoff Event

Join us as we kick off the university’s celebration of Black History Month with a hybrid virtual and in-person event exploring the month’s theme:
“Reclamation through Resistance, Rebirth through Reconciliation.”

Learn more

Lora King

‘Voices of a Movement’ premiere and Q&A with Lora King

Join the Voices of a Movement series with special guest Lora King, daughter of Rodney King and the inaugural subject of the Lab’s groundbreaking oral history collection titled The Second Draft Project.

Learn more

Charlotta Bass

Charlotta Bass Day Screening of ‘The 1619 Project’

Join the USC Charlotta Bass Journalism & Justice Lab as we celebrate the formal proclamation of Charlotta Bass Day with a screening and Q&A of The 1619 Project with the Onyx Collective.

Learn more

For more events, visit the USC Event Calendar.


USC News Stories


USC Athletics Celebrates Black History Month

USC Athletics BHM website

Every February, USC Athletics celebrates and documents its proud African-American heritage on Black History Month. Over the course of the month, we will tell stories about iconic Trojans who serve as role models for our school and the African-American community. And, we will pay tribute to the pioneers who fearlessly broke racial boundaries and dared to succeed in the face of resistance.


Voices Across USC

Student Voices from BHM Kickoff

What USC students had to say during the Black History Month kickoff.

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MLK in Los Angeles Exhibit

Join USC on social media for a virtual tour of the MLK in Los Angeles exhibit at the USC Fisher Museum of Art.

Watch the video

Black History Month Reading List

Check out this USC student-curated list of essential reading for Black History Month.

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#WeAreListening

Hear from Black student storytellers from the USC Annenberg  #WeAreListening series.

See the series.

A young woman sitting in a pew in church

Why activism thrives in L.A.’s Black churches

Pastors advocate for their communities from the pulpit and on the streets — and training at USC gives them the tools to take their work further.

Read more

Cardinal divas pose for an image on the 50 yard line of the Felix Field

The Cardinal Divas are fighting on

From the stands, the Cardinal Divas have made their mark on the college dance world – could the football field be next?

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MLK and FBI poster

MLK/FBI screening is centerpiece of USC’s Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations

Other highlights include the Trojan Marching Band and Cardinal Divas participating in the Kingdom Day Parade and an exhibit at the USC Fisher Museum of Art.

Read more

Q&A with USC Price Professor LaVonna Lewis

As an African American studies course sparks debate, a DEI expert warns against ‘erasure’ of Black history.

Read more

Watch the 2023 Black History Month kickoff

Trojans celebrate the theme: “Reclamation through Resistance, Rebirth through Reconciliation.” 


Get Involved

Image of USC students

USC Student Organizations

Find your community in one of USC’s dozens of Black student organizations.

CBCSA

Center for Black Cultural and Student Affairs

The Center for Black Cultural and Student Affairs provides intentional, holistic, scholarly and co-curricular programming designed to strengthen the understanding of Black diasporic heritage.

Image of USC faculty

USC Black Staff and Faculty Caucus

The Black Staff and Faculty Caucus’ motto “People Building People” is about you and me, collectively making a difference.  It is an important strategic alliance comprised of staff and faculty for the benefit of our future… and that of our students.

USC Black Alumni Association logo

USC Black Alumni Association

Founded in 1976 by Rev. Dr. Thomas Kilgore Jr., the USC Black Alumni Association is a leadership network established to strengthen the legacy of educational attainment and excellence of USC’s Black students.


Celebrate Black History Month With USC