Black History month is celebrated throughout the month of February each year. Black Student Union (BSU) president, Haile Madden, believes that Black History Month is important to celebrate because it recognizes all of the accomplishments African American people have made, but haven’t gotten the credit they deserve. 

“It’s important [to celebrate Black History Month] because this country was built on the backs of black people and black people never really get, my ancestors specifically, [don’t] get credit for what they have done in the past. Now, since times are changing, people are realizing ‘Hey, black people need to be acknowledged, they’ve done [so much]. [There is a lot]  that people don’t know, so it’s important for that recognition or credit to be given where it’s due,” Madden said.  

A way that BSU plans on celebrating the accomplishments of black people and their culture is by [giving] important announcements and spreading the word about Black History Month to students with newsletters. 

“BSU is planning on [sharing] quotes over announcements and then we’re thinking of maybe doing a newsletter,” Madden said.  

Madden hopes for a lot of student involvement for Black History Month. With the help of BSU, they will inform students on the history that isn’t typically talked about in the classrooms to open students’ eyes about the accomplishments made by African American people. 

“I just hope that [students] will [learn] about more black history than [what] is taught in our curriculum, [things] that they wouldn’t usually see in our history books. Local black history [is also important for students to learn about], [such as] [who] Lucy Simms [was].  [Overall,] hopefully [students] will learn more things that aren’t taught in school about black people and black history that’s currently happening today and in the past,” Madden said. 

In the past, BSU has held a variety of events to celebrate Black History Month. One of which being a winter formal. Although COVID-19 has currently brought such events to a halt, it was still a way to get students involved in black history. 

“When I was in tenth grade, they had a Martin Luther King conference and BSU put together a powerpoint showing local black figures in Harrisonburg and black history here specifically. It was right before COVID[-19] happened and we also hosted a formal in February which was just another fun event for Black History Month,” Madden said. 

Madden hopes to be able to teach other students who aren’t as involved in Black History Month more about it. 

“We celebrate black history all the time and black culture, so [the goal is] for other students who aren’t that immersed in the culture just to make them aware of it in any way, big or small,” Madden said. 

Madden’s personal goals for Black History Month are to get all communities in the school involved in the celebration of black history. 

“My personal goals are definitely to do something that is more recognized than they have been in the past and not just to make the Black History Month celebration just be for the Black Student Union, [but] more groups and clubs recognizing it in the school,” Madden said. “It should be very much recognized within all communities in our school, not just the black community, so that’s mostly what I hope, that all students are happy celebrating Black History Month, not just black students.”