February 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of\u00a0the founding of\u00a0Black History Month\u2019s formal recognition in the United States, and Cal State LA is commemorating the milestone with a month of events celebrating the history, impact,\u00a0and ongoing contributions of the African diaspora.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Throughout\u00a0this month, students, faculty, staff,\u00a0and community members are\u00a0participating\u00a0in\u00a0discussions, community gatherings,\u00a0and\u00a0cultural programs\u00a0highlighting Black intellectual traditions, civic leadership,\u00a0and cultural influence.\u00a0Events\u00a0include a community-building gathering and library exhibit, a Black-owned business flea market, a film screening, a book lecture,\u00a0and an alumni network mixer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A centerpiece of the centennial observance is an upcoming virtual lecture presented by the Department of Pan-African Studies at 6 p.m.\u00a0on\u00a0Wednesday, Feb. 18, via Zoom. The presentation, \u201cFrom the\u00a0Journal of Negro History\u00a0to the\u00a0Journal of Black Studies: Genealogies of Black Knowledge Production in Pan-African Studies<\/a>,\u201d will be delivered by Christel Temple, editor-in-chief of the\u00a0Journal of Black Studies.\u00a0<\/p>\n In the lecture, Temple will connect contemporary scholarship to the legacy of Carter G. Woodson, often called the \u201cFather of Black History.\u201d In 1916, Woodson founded\u00a0the\u00a0Journal of Negro History\u00a0to provide a scholarly forum for research on Black history. The publication, now known as\u00a0The Journal of African American History,\u00a0remains\u00a0a leading journal in the field. In 1926, Woodson\u00a0established\u00a0Negro History Week, which later evolved into Black History Month.\u00a0<\/p>\n This\u00a0lecture\u00a0is\u00a0sponsored by the\u00a0university\u2019s\u00a0Department of Pan-African Studies\u00a0in the College of Ethnic Studies, the Black Student Union,\u00a0and the Nigerian Student Association.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Department of Pan-African Studies, founded in 1969, is the second-oldest Black Studies department in the nation. The department emerged from student advocacy during the social and political movements of the late 1960s. In 1967, the Cal State LA Black Student Union led efforts to establish a Black Studies\u00a0program while advocating for greater representation of Black students and faculty.\u00a0Each year,\u00a0the Cross Cultural Centers at\u00a0Cal State LA\u00a0host\u00a0a Black Grad Celebration to\u00a0recognize the accomplishments of Black graduating\u00a0students.\u00a0<\/p>\n