By: Chloe Becerra Picture Credits: Anna Chang and Chloe Becerra
Black History Month (BHM) is a celebration that traces back to 1915 when Dr. Carter G. Woodson founded an organization now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). Dr. Woodson started the first Negro History Week in February which included the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. This week was later issued by President Ford in 1975 when he urged all Americans to observe the week to celebrate Black History. Finally, the week was expanded to be a month-long observance called Black History Month (Library of Congress).
[Charity Ncube singing in chapel 2024]
LLA has a short history of how we have celebrated BHM throughout the years. When Pastor Jason Calvert was LLA’s chaplain, he said they had one or two chapels to book end the month to celebrate BHM. Then, as the chaplaincy changed to Pastor JO Cordero, he changed the celebration to include the entire month's chapels.
[Highlights from this years fashion show in chapel]
Now, with the addition of the Black Student Association (BSA), which was founded in 2020, LLA’s celebration of BHM has expanded to partner with Campus Ministries for the entire month of February. According to Pastor Tim, there is one celebratory chapel at the beginning of the month and the rest of the month is in partnership with the club to design chapels that continue to honor BHM.
[Highlights from this years BHM chapels]
In an interview with the BSA president Charity Ncube, she talked about the club's founding. “So, the BSA was founded in 2020 by Faith Ncube and Elizabeth Mtango" said Ncube. “When the club initially started, Dr. Sandiford was our head sponsor and now it is Mrs. Gardner and Mrs. Lawrence. So, in total, the BSA is going on their 4th year.”
[Worship during BHM chapel]
The BSA has had a huge impact on LLA and has changed the school's dedication to celebrating BHM. In the words of Ncube, “Overall, I feel that the BSA has shaped how our school celebrates BHM by being an outlet for black students’ voices to be heard throughout the month and also to share black culture with Loma Linda in a way that is purely authentic and from our hearts.”
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