Henderson State University is celebrating Black History Month with a variety of cultural events to educate students, faculty and staff about the history of the campus.
For Dr. Eric Flowers, assistant vice president of student affairs, Black History Month is an important and critical occasion.
“As a child, I always admired the fact that my great grandfather was college educated and it impacted my decision to enter the field of education,” Flowers said.
As a university, Henderson State has a rich history of being inclusive for students of all cultures, races and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Flowers said Black History Month is a great time for discussion and reflection.
“Our history is not discussed enough,” he said. “Maurice Horton was a student during the civil rights era when integration in public schools was not widely accepted. Henderson State led the charge on that.”
Horton graduated from Henderson in 1957, becoming the first African-American student to graduate from the college and one of the first African-Americans to graduate from a white institution in the South.
Flowers is proud of the educational opportunities provided to students of color over the past 64 years and uses the significance of his administrative role to continue the legacy of assisting all Henderson students on their journey toward educational and career success.
“Black history is our history,” said Flowers. “As an administrator of color on campus, I am aware of the responsibility I have to impact our students in a positive way.”
This year, the Office of Student Affairs and the Student Activities Board are hosting a poetry night with spoken word artist and motivational speaker Kendra Harris at 7 p.m. Feb. 12 in the Garrison Lecture Hall. A cultural comedy night will be held at 8 p.m. Feb. 19 in Arkansas Hall. All events are open to the campus community.
“We want everyone to participate and have a new social and educational experience that commemorates our black history at Henderson,” Flowers said. “I want everyone to gain a new perspective and be engaged with their fellow Reddies.”
Throughout February, organizations and departments will join the celebration with events ranging from panel discussions to cultural events.
Check the calendar at hsu.edu for more information.