Celebrating Black History Month With Syracuse Abroad
This February, Syracuse Abroad invites you to celebrate Black History Month (BHM) with us. Learn more about our events on campus and the resources available abroad to help enrich Black History Month appreciation and celebrations, today and every day.
Celebrate With Syracuse Abroad on Campus
Start by attending the student-led panel discussion The Black Experience Abroad on Wednesday, Feb. 22, at Bird Library, Room 002. Hosted by Global Ambassador Bailey Davis ’23, students can learn more about being a student of color abroad and hear from program alumni about their experiences. A student panel will answer questions.
Learn About Black Culture at Syracuse Abroad Centers
Syracuse Madrid
Syracuse Madrid offers a variety of communities, multimedia outlets and organizations that pertain to racial and ethnic minority experiences in Spain. For those in Spain this semester looking to celebrate BHM, students can follow Spanish-speaking social media accounts to find community and get educated on Black experiences in Spain. Students can also attend local events, get involved in the community, and listen to new podcasts to help celebrate Black culture. Check out the Syracuse Madrid Instagram account to learn more.
Syracuse Madrid celebrates and appreciates students’ inherent diversity. The Center has established a student group dedicated to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) efforts abroad: Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee (DISC). Although DISC has paused for the spring 2023 semester, this committee was put in place to discuss DEIA matters, plan initiatives and act forward. Learn more about inclusion efforts in Madrid.
Syracuse London Center
Passion for diversity and inclusion at Syracuse London is rooted in the belief that all life experiences, cultures, and belief systems are essential to academic excellence. Although Black History Month is celebrated in October in London, students can still celebrate this month. There are creative collective events, tours and explorations to learn more about Black culture in London.
Syracuse London also offers two African American studies courses each semester: AAS300.1 All Black Everything: Well-Being, Justice, Equality and Social Change, and AAS300.5 Black London. Learn more about how London addresses diversity and inclusion at our Center.
Syracuse Florence Center
Black culture is celebrated heavily in Florence, Italy. While studying in Florence, students can intern with local organization Black History Month Florence (BHMF). As a long-standing partner, the cultural BHMF association is a cross-cultural network that oversees a range of programs dedicated to promoting an awareness of black cultural production within the context of Italy. This group celebrates Black history and focuses on sharing stories and experiences through creative expression.
An internship with BHMF is dedicated to developing, promoting, documenting and archiving Black History Month Florence initiatives as well as those of its related platforms such as The Black Archive Alliance, Fischi per Fiaschi, Di Palo in Frasca, and more.
Syracuse Strasbourg Center
Black history month is celebrated in different facets throughout the year in France. When studying in Strasbourg, there are several courses are offered each semester related to race, diversity and inclusion: COM350 Media, Diversity and Inclusion: Diversity in European Films, PSC350.3 Minorities, Migrants & Discrimination in Europe, and PSC429 European Human Rights.
The Center is also preparing for its participation in the Festival Afro de Strasbourg in May, a festival celebrating Afro-descendants. Student internships with the organizer, an Afro-descendant-led organization, and other experiential learning opportunities will be available.
In March, students are invited to the “Afro-Feminine Entrepreneurship in Alsace,” an event sponsored by Afriqu’Elles (“African Women”), an organization of female entrepreneurs in Strasbourg. In June, students are invited to participate in “Memories of African Immigration in Strasbourg,” which focuses on stories of immigration by Africans and Afro-descendants, along with a photo exhibition.
Syracuse Santiago Center
Although the U.S. Embassy in Chile commemorates Black History month each year, anti-racism awareness initiatives and events are most present in October. The concept of racial integration has been present in Chilean culture since its independence from Spain, and in addition to racial equality, there is a large focus on universal human rights throughout the region.
In the past, students at Syracuse Santiago have done volunteer work with an organization called Colectivo sin Fronteras. This group works with immigrants in Chile, many of them Black.
Visit the Syracuse Abroad website to learn more about diversity, inclusion and identity abroad.
