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Black History Month Newsletter

Black History Month provides an opportunity to enlighten ourselves on the major importance and direct influence that Black Americans and global Black/African communities have had in shaping the world today, as we know it. From culture to arts, politics to social justice, and beyond, we place an intentional emphasis on reflecting on the various triumphs, struggles, and voices of Black communities to expand our own individual paradigm and education. On behalf of the BHM Committee, we're ecstatic to share with campus Edition #1 of our Black History Month Newsletter Edition, introducing this year's theme of "UnCelebrated Heroines: Past, Present, & Future," where we strive to bring to light women whose names are rarely taught, yet who have made a huge difference across America. 
 
For the first edition, Political Figures, we highlight Black women who have played a pivotal role in shaping political landscapes and advocating for justice, equity, and civil rights throughout history, resulting in their leadership and tenacity inspiring generations. While challenging systemic barriers by driving policy changes that benefit all individuals, especially for historically marginalized communities, Black women are trailblazers in the political arena. Check out Edmonds College's Black History Month Newsletter Edition #1, Political Figures, illustrating the legacy of Barbara Jordan and Shirley Chisholm, paving the way for individuals like Former Vice President Kamal Harris and Jasmine Crockett.

Barbara Jordan | Years 1936 to 1996

  • In 1966, Jordan was elected to the Texas Senate as one of only three African-Americans elected to the Texas Senate since 1883.
  • In 1967, she was the first freshman senator ever named to the Texas Legislative Council, and in 1972 was elected to the US House of Representatives.
  • In 1974, she delivered a historic opening speech during the impeachment of then-president Richard Nixon and was considered the running mate for President Jimmy Carter.
  • In 1976, she became the first woman to deliver a keynote address at the Democratic National Convention.
  • Jordan supported the expansion of the 1965 Voting Rights Act to cover accessibility for language minorities and, up until her death, Jordan chaired the US Commission on Immigration Reform.
Jordan Walked walked so Jasmine Crockett could run! | Civil Rights Attorney, Crockett was elected to the Texas US House of Representatives in 2020. She is the 118th Congress’s freshman class representative, passed bills toward landmark criminal justice reforms,  and was one of the lead architects of the 2021 Texas House Quorum Break regarding proposed restrictive voting measures.

Shirley Chisholm | Years 1924 to 2005

  • In 1964, Chisholm was elected to the New York State Assembly, and in 1968, she became the first Black woman to be elected to the US Congress.
  • In 1972, Chisholm ran for President of the USA with her motto of “Unbought and Unbossed,” later stating that she ran for office "in spite of hopeless odds ... to demonstrate the sheer will and refusal to accept the status quo.”
  • During the 1970s, Chisolm co-founded the Congressional Black Caucus and the National Congress of Black Women, and in 1977, she became the first Black woman to serve on the House Rules Committee.
  • A child of immigrants, Chisholm was a lifelong advocate for wage rights, social support bills such as the Health Security Act (i.e. a government health insurance program for every American), and inclusion at all levels of leadership.
Shirley Chisholm walked so Kamala Harris could run! | Former Attorney General for California and Senator from 2017-2021, Harris is also a child of immigrants. She held the post of Vice President of the United States from 2021-2025. in 2024, she became the second African-American woman and first Asian-American to be nominated for President of the United States by a major party.
 

Upcoming Event: Movie Screening -- "Move when the Spirit Says Move: The Legacy of Dorothy Foreman Cotton" 
 
Thursday, February 13 | Black Box Theatre
Doors Open: 1:30 p.m. | Film Starts: 2 p.m.
 
This 2023 movie follows "a bold and highly effective civil rights leader, who educated thousands about their citizenship rights and inspired generations of activists with her powerful freedom songs. The only woman on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s executive staff, Dorothy was a charismatic, courageous, and consistently overlooked key player in the Civil Rights Movement (IMDB)." In addition, in support of Black Businesses, we will have food from a local restaurant, Gold Coast Ghal Kitchen, serving traditional West African cuisine (limited supplies and registration required). 
 
 

Thanks to our 2025 Sponsors

The Center for Student Engagement & Leadership (CSEL), the Office of Organizational Development and Training (ODET), and the Office of Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EIB).
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