The history of culture is as fascinating as it is important and it can be especially important to those who may be unaware of the cultural achievements of racial groups in the United States.
The editors of The Equinox feel it is paramount this Black History Month to give voices to the marginalized who contribute so much to the cultural zeitgeist of the United States.
Events in celebration of Black History Month are taking place at Keene State College this February. The Black Student Union and the Department of Student Belonging, Diversity and Equity are hosting the events.
The Voices of the Heroes Campaign was held Feb. 2 and 4 on social media and allowed people of color a voice to share historical Black figures that had a positive impact on their lives.
The Black Money Workshop will be held on Feb. 14 and will address the barriers people of color have with financial opportunities.
We think it is terrific these events are being hosted at Keene State College. It is crucial to give a voice to communities that often go unheard. It is especially important to let those voices be heard in a state that is not very diverse, such as New Hampshire.
According to the 2020 census, 92.8% of the population in N.H. is White and 1.9% is Black. Amplifying the voices of Black people is absolutely dire in N.H. as it might be one of the only opportunities people can get to hear the voices of the marginalized.
The Black community has provided so much to American culture and it is only right to celebrate that fact. Many people might not realize just how much Black people contributed to the American cultures of art, food and so much more. We believe letting the voices of the marginalized can help counter some of the hurtful views depicted towards them in the past and currently. Racism should have absolutely no place in modern society and it should not have had any place in society whatsoever.
We feel these events being hosted are an amazing start to hosting more events like it in the future no matter the month. Black voices should not only be amplified one month of the year. We care about the voices speaking and want to hear more of it. It is about time we hear these voices speak out at Keene State College.
It is up to the students at Keene State College to show their support for the voices that need to be heard in these events. The students need to openly value the events to have more of them happen.
It is a fantastic start to have these events at Keene State College. We look forward to seeing more events take place in the future.
