Yale SOM Celebrates Black History Month
The theme for 2023’s celebration is Black Resistance.
During February, the Yale School of Management participates in the U.S. celebration of Black History Month. This year’s national theme is Black Resistance, and our campus celebration will highlight individuals, past and present, who have resisted oppression in various forms. Yale SOM is proud to celebrate and elevate Black voices, traditions, and culture, within our community and beyond.
Black History Month at SOM is an important opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of the African diaspora across a range of fields—including science, music, literature, art, and leadership. It is a critical part of our efforts to reflect on and address challenges of racism, exclusion, and injustice in our institution and in broader society. —Yale SOM Dean Kerwin K. Charles, Indra K. Nooyi Dean and Frederic D. Wolfe Professor of Economics, Policy & Management
SOM’s Office of Inclusion and Diversity is collaborating with students, staff, and faculty to offer more than a dozen ways to meaningfully celebrate Black History Month. Programming will focus on sharing experiences and perspectives from the Black community. Events will include movie screenings, book events, cuisine takeovers, and community mixers. Panel discussions will explore topics including health equity and the Black maternity mortality crisis, Black Greek life, what it's like to be a Black PhD student at Yale, and the university’s connections to New Haven. We will also be supporting local and national Black-owned restaurants, bookstores, and venues throughout the month.
Our student-run affinity group, the Black Business Alliance (BBA), is also planning a month full of impactful programming focused on community building, cultural celebration, and awareness opportunities. Be sure to follow BBA on Instagram at blackatyalesom throughout the month—and check Yale SOM’s Instagram stories at yalesom every Wednesday during February, when a different member of BBA will be taking over the account.
Meanwhile, inside Evans Hall, the digital walls will inspire and educate our community throughout February by featuring prominent historical Black leaders who represent the spirit of the Black Resistance theme through their actions and accomplishments.
The Afro-American Cultural Center at Yale—known affectionally as “the House”—is the hub of Yale University’s Black History Month celebrations. From February 2 to 4, The House and student leaders will host the annual Black Solidarity Conference, Yale’s largest undergrad conference, which convenes 700 undergraduates of various races, religions, ethnicities, and communities to discuss issues pertaining to the African Diaspora.
If you’re in New Haven this month, we’d love for you to join us in our campus celebrations! Check out some of the upcoming events below.
We invite you to learn more about our commitment to celebrating diversity and fostering inclusion at SOM.
Happy Black History Month!
The Office of Inclusion and Diversity
som.inclusion.diversity@yale.edu