Amid President Donald Trump’s rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies throughout the federal government, San José State students continue to celebrate Black History Month.
Black History Month occurs every February to celebrate African Americans and their role in shaping the United States and has different themes each year, according to a Feb. 1, CBS news article.
Determined by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History the 2025 theme is African Americans and Labor, according to the same article.
Dominique Thomas, a second-year humanities and liberal arts student and internal vice president of SJSU Black Student Union, feels that work goes beyond something that goes towards governments or systems that don’t serve the Black community.
“To me, it means that there is not only work outside of adding liberation,” Thomas said. “ (It) means we can help our communities and it doesn’t have to be seen as a negative thing but instead light.”
Created by the historian Carter G. Woodson in 1926, he chose the second week of February because it fell between Abraham Lincoln’s and Fredrick Douglas’s birthdays according to a Jan. 30, History Channel article.
The civil rights and Black Power movement started to advocate for the first shift from Black History Week to Black History Month, according to a Feb. 1 AP News article.
In 1976 former president Gerald R. Ford issued the commemoration of the first Black History Month, according to the same article.
Craig John Alimo, director for Social Justice Education at SJSU’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, sees college campuses celebrating Black History Month as a way to honor others and reduce bias.
“Black History Month and celebrating at college campuses are related to our diversity, equity, and inclusion outcome. We learn to celebrate other diversities,” said Alimo. “Diversity, equity, and inclusion work, which is really important for our education not just for students going to our school but our faculty as well.”
On Jan. 31, the United States Department of Defense issued a press release stating it will no longer use official resources for celebrations that are “related to cultural awareness months”, according to the U.S. Department of Defense website.
“He (President Trump) can remove Black History Month, but I am still going to be Black and Black History Month is still going to be here for me,” Thomas said.
Federal agencies complied with President Trump’s executive orders that reduce DEI programs. Sending emails to staff members in federal agencies, in the military, and celebration of cultural awareness events, such as MLK day and Women’s History Month according to a Jan. 31 NBC news article.
At San José State, many celebrate by organizing events coordinated by clubs such as the SJSU Black Student Union and The B.L.O.C. at SJSU.
The B.L.O.C. at SJSU and SJSU Black Student Union coordinated a Black History Month kickoff with a Book Talk alongside it, on Feb. 3 on campus, according to the SJSU events calendar.
“Having the chance to be able to express the love and joy of being Black, as well as the accomplishments of being Black are important to me, and that is why I celebrate the month.” Thomas said.
Jahmal Williams, director of DEI partnerships and University-Community Liaison Office at SJSU, said that the history and culture that Africans brought with them helped shape America and what it is today.
“It is (impact of African Americans) engrained throughout everything that exists in this country,” Williams said. “It is a way to celebrate the lives and the journey of Africans and Black Americans.”
**This article was updated 2/7/25**
