Black History Month is a time to reflect, to educate and be educated, to share experiences and connect with others, and to celebrate our collective efforts and contributions to our society.
In that spirit, Chief Diversity Officer LaVar J. Charleston invited Black faculty and staff at UW–Madison to share short videos reflecting on their personal connection to Black History Month and why it’s important in their lives and their work.
Look for new videos in our “What Black History Month Means to Me” series throughout the month of February. You can find them on this page, or on our YouTube and Instagram accounts. Find all of UW’s Black History Month events at “Melanin in Media: The People, The Culture, The Blackprint.”
Chief Diversity Officer LaVar J. Charleston recites a poem he wrote titled “What Black History Month Means to Me.”
Badgers women’s basketball head coach Marisa Moseley shares how important it is to learn about and celebrate the incredible Black leaders in our history.
Chris Walker, director of the UW–Madison Division of the Arts, talks about how powerful Black History Month is for him.
Eric Wilcots, dean of the College of Letters & Science, talks about the experience of discovering untold stories of the impact of Black people throughout American history.
Torsheika Maddox, senior operations officer and chief of staff in the Division of Diversity, Equity & Educational Achievement, says watching future Black leaders grow and develop at UW–Madison is what most excites her during Black History Month.
Anita Nelson, director of inclusion and engagement for UW Athletics, says Black History Month is about understanding how far we’ve come as a society, while keeping in mind how far we still have to go.