Black History Month
Black History Month
Honoring resilience and excellence
Black History Month, also known as African American History Month, began in 1926 when
Harvard historian Carter G. Woodson and other members of the Association for the Study
of Negro Life and History chose the date to match both Frederick Douglass' and Abraham
Lincoln's birthdays. Woodson argued "If a race has no history, it has no worthwhile
tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world" and urged visibility
and study of the Black experience. In 1976, Black History Month was officially recognized
by President Gerald Ford and has been recognized by every sitting president since.
Every February, the Office of Multicultural Affairs as well as various student organizations
and campus units host programs in recognition of Black History Month.
Nancy Randolph Davis Day
Feb. 1
Each February, OSU honors civil rights pioneer Nancy Randolph Davis. She was the first
Black enrollee at OSU, and influenced the lives of thousands of students she taught
over her 43 years of service. She was also the recipient of the OSU College of Education
and Human Sciences’ Enhancing Human Lives Award and was inducted into OSU’s Greek
Hall of Fame in 2012 and was posthumously inducted to the OSU Hall of Fame in 2018.
On October 23, 2020, the Oklahoma A&M Regents approved renaming of the Human Sciences
and Human Sciences West buildings to Nancy Randolph Davis and Nancy Randolph Davis
West, honoring her as the first African-American student to attend then Oklahoma A&M
College.
Celebrating the contributions and achievementsmade by African Americans throughout history
Committed to our Black community
Student Resources
OSU is home to several African American student organizations which provide students the opportunity to lead, provide community service and promote cultural unity.
Black Faculty & Staff
Black Faculty and Staff Association (BFSA) serves as a resource for African-American faculty, staff, and students at OSU through the promotion of professional development, mentoring, networking, wellness, scholarships and programs that emphasize the legacy and traditions of the African-American community.