February is Black History Month, and that history is showcased on the Free Speech Wall in the Idaho Commons.
University of Idaho student Danny Bugingo, who is a columnist for The Argonaut, is a member of the Black Student Union and helped set up this week’s display.
“I’m glad that we have a space to show people that we’re here,” Bugingo said. “I think that’s the biggest thing, because there aren’t many black students here, so it’s easy to feel alone. I think it’s nice that we can have something that people can see and think ‘Hey, they’re here.’”
Bugingo said the display’s theme this week is black history through music. The display is a timeline with images of a famous black artist paired with lyrics from one of their songs and an explanation of the song’s significance.
“We’re trying to say that our history is important and it’s so tied to American history,” Bugingo said. “When you look at the wall, there’s jazz and rock and hip-hop. And black people, you cannot remove them from the course of history and from music and so we’re just trying to send that message that our history is here and it matters.”
The Martin Luther King Jr. Wall Display is put on by the Office of Multicultural Affairs in collaboration with Black Student Union, the Women’s Center and the LGBTQA Office. Each week until the end of February, a different organization will create a display featuring black history. Bekah MillerMacPhee, assistant director of programs for the Women’s Center, said her office plans to highlight women past and present involved in civil rights movements.
“Black women are a huge part of the women’s movement, so this is a great time to highlight specifically African American women and other women of color who have been part of this movement who, even within the women’s movement, have not gotten as much attention as white women,” MillerMacPhee said.
She said civil rights movements don’t happen because of a few leaders, but because of all the people involved with them.
“We want students at the university to know that their voice matters. You don’t have to be MLK to make change,” MillerMacPhee said. “You connecting with other people and organizing with groups — that really is all that has made a difference.”
President of the Black Student Union, Dorothy Apai said she thinks the union’s display turned out amazing.
“It’s simple, but it gets the point across,” Apai said. “I’m proud of it.”
In a couple weeks, Apai said the student union will make another black history display, which she is excited for. She encouraged students to attend black history workshops in February.
“It should be something that we talk about all year but it’s not,” Apai said. “So it’s February — learn, learn, learn. There are so many other things besides just the music, athletes and all that stuff. Just take the time and learn. Take it all in.”
Jack Olson can be reached at [email protected]