African American Celebration Month

2026 African American Celebration Month Events

January 19, 2026 - February 19, 2026
NOT-JUST-FOOD-DRIVE (Food and Essentials Drive)
Drop Off Locations: Golden Grizzlies Pantry, CMI, GSC
Donations to benefit the Oakland University Golden Grizzlies Food Pantry
Hosted by the Gender and Sexuality Center

Drop off donations to benefit the Oakland University Golden Grizzlies Food Pantry and to help the greater campus community.  For a full list of in-demand items, please visit oakland.edu/osi/pantry

January 19, 2026
ANNUAL KEEPER OF THE DREAM SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS CELEBRATION
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Oakland Center Founders Ballrooms
Hosted by the Center for Multicultural Initiatives

Oakland University welcomes Bakari Sellers as the keynote speaker for the 2026 Keeper of the Dream Scholarship Awards Celebration. 

January 21, 2026
MLK DAY OF SERVICE honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his legacy
9 a.m. - 9 p.m. | Oakland Center, Gold Rooms
Hosted by the Office for Student Involvement

The day is devoted to doing service projects for the community members of Pontiac.

January 22, 2026
LISTENING TO OUR PAST
Noon | Kresge Library, Room 225B
Hosted by OU Libraries

OU Libraries is presenting Henry Louis Gates, Jr.'s PBS Film Series on Genealogy: African American Lives.

January 27, 2026
LEADERSHIP LECTURE SERIES
12 - 1 p.m. | Oakland Center, Gold Room B
Hosted by the Center for Multicultural Initiatives

Come join us for the Leadership Lecture series, in honor of the late Oakland University, Senior Vice President of Student Affairs, Glenn McIntosh focusing on leadership and student development.

January 28, 2026
HEALING THROUGH HISTORY: BLACK MENTAL HEALTH, IDENTITY AND COMMUNITY
1 - 2 p.m. | Oakland Center, Ambassador Rooms
Hosted by the Counseling Department

Experience "Healing Through History: Black Mental Health, Identity and Community," an interactive event inspired by traditional Black healing practices. We will explore the power of community in the healing process through history, reflection, movement, music, and more. This presentation highlights the role of Black leaders in counseling and mental health as we engage your senses, honor history, and reconnect with joy, resilience, and our hope for the future. Join us for a joyful, grounding, and interactive experience as we explore the cultural roots of Black healing and its interconnectedness to community. 

January 29, 2026
DISCOVERING ROOTS: THE PROMISE OF FREEDOM
Noon | Kresge Library, Room 225B
Hosted by OU Libraries

OU Libraries is presenting Henry Louis Gates, Jr.'s PBS Film Series on Genealogy: African American Lives.

February 3, 2026
PAN-AFRICANISM & THE ARTS 
12 – 1 p.m. | Oakland Center
Hosted by the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures and School of Music, Theater and Dance

In the fall of 2025, a group of five students and two professors from Oakland University attempted to respond to a request from the embassy in Burkina Faso about how to promote the values of Pan-Africanism across the world. Professor Mark Stone (music) and Professor Jennifer Law-Sullivan (modern languages & literatures) collaborated with the students to form a response that incorporates music, dance, poetry, and visual arts. Through weekly conversations with students and colleagues in Burkina Faso and Uganda, the students came up with a multi-media project to answer the call for global solutions on the issue of how to extend the values of Pan-Africanism to the American continent.

The work completed in this diplomacy lab will be interesting and informative to students across the campus and we welcome the opportunity to continue to spread the values of Pan-Africanism by sharing the process by which the students undertook this study, the lessons learned about cross-continental collaboration, and the life-changing impact this project had on students and faculty. In addition, we would like to share the multi-media project the students created with a broad audience who, we believe, will likewise be inspired to embrace the spirit of Pan-Africanism, often described with the African word “ubuntu,” meaning, “I am what I am because of who we all are.”

February 5, 2026
SEARCHING FOR OUR NAMES
Noon | Kresge Library, Room 225B
Hosted by OU Libraries

OU Libraries is presenting Henry Louis Gates, Jr.'s PBS Film Series on Genealogy: African American Lives.

February 6, 2026
TASTE OF AFRICA
4 - 7 p.m. | Oakland Center, Banquet Rooms
Hosted by the Center for Multicultural Initiatives

Taste of Africa will Feature African and African-American cuisine, African drumming and spirituals, spoken word performances, and much more!

February 10, 2026
BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS: THE REAL COST OF FOOD INSECURITY FOR BLACK AND MINORITIZED STUDENTS
12  – 1 p.m. | Virtual
https://oakland-edu.zoom.us/j/2285272218 
Meeting ID: 228 527 2218   
Hosted by the Golden Grizzlies Pantry

Research shows that minoritized students experience food insecurity at higher rates than other students. Studies have found that Black, Latinx/a/o/e, and Hispanic students are more likely to face food insecurity, about 1.4 to 1.6 times more than White students. For example, nearly 50% of Black students reported being food insecure, and this percentage rises to over 54% among community college students. 

Food insecurity can lead to negative effects such as poor academic performance, increased anxiety, and health problems. It is also linked to challenges such as unstable housing and difficulties meeting basic needs, including transportation and housing costs. This highlights a significant racial disparity in access to food and resources among college students. This presentation will highlight best practices for addressing food insecurity and aim to educate attendees on the challenges faced by minoritized students, fostering greater awareness and action.

February 12, 2026
BEFORE THE WAR: BEYOND THE MIDDLE PASSAGE
Noon | Kresge Library, Room 225B
Hosted by OU Libraries

OU Libraries is presenting Henry Louis Gates, Jr.'s PBS Film Series on Genealogy: African American Lives.

February 19, 2026
BLACK WOMEN ROCK AWARDS
(CLOSING CEREMONY)
5 - 7 p.m. | Ambassador Rooms (157-158)
Hosted by the Center for Multicultural Initiatives

Come celebrate the accomplishments of Black Women and allies from OU’s campus, community and alumni as well as give thanks to the many sponsors and supporters of African American Celebration Month. This event will serve as the Closing Ceremony for the 2026 African American Celebration Month. Light refreshments will be provided.

Denise Thompkins-Jones
Center for Multicultural Initiatives

Kayla Anderson
Association of Black Students

Anthony Clark
Center for Multicultural Initiatives

Latasha Curry
Student Business Services

Jessie Hurse
Dean of Students

Blake Ilan
Gender and Sexuality Center

Dr. Raenece Johnson
School of Social Work

Kristina Lindberg
University Communications and Marketing

Asia Mason
Association of Black Students

James Mitchell
University Housing

Dr. Ronald Reeves
Athletics

Fatoumata Samb
African Student Union

Marieme Samb
African Student Union

Sarah Swarz
Career and Life Design Center

Sponsored by:

• Center for Multicultural Initiatives

Co-sponsored by:

• Oakland University Credit Union
• Corewell Health
• Fifth Third Bank
• Magna
• School of Nursing

The Black Women Rock Awards give the Oakland University community an opportunity to recognize and honor Black women and allies who have demonstrated excellence in academics, leadership, service, and professionalism.