The Time is Now: Reflections on Black History Month

 “The time is always right to do what is right.”—Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

As we near the end of Black History Month, I find myself reflecting on the words of several champions of equality. Dr. King was a pioneer of the civil rights movement and a proponent of kindness, empathy, and social justice.  He believed these qualities when pursued together would make our world a more openhearted, fair, and equitable place for all people to pursue their dreams. That was, after all, Dr. King’s central message—that all people should have the right to dream and the freedom to work toward the fulfillment of such dreams.

I am so proud of the efforts of so many passionate Commonwealth University colleagues who embody Dr. King’s message and are continually doing what is right for our students and our community. Over the past month, close to two dozen Black History Month events have taken place across all CU locations. From “Lunch and Learn” events to movie nights, day trips, and speakers, our students have had the opportunity to engage in a wide-ranging offering of events designed to expand their knowledge, understanding, and appreciation for Black History.

The 2024 Sankofa Conference, hosted by the Bloomsburg Multicultural Center, saw students from all CU locations come together to learn more about the rich cultural heritage of people of African descent. Sankofa has long provided a forum for unity and understanding among students. It is heartening to see students from diverse backgrounds come together with a genuine desire to improve their own understanding and thereby begin to foster change in their own lives and communities.

Students from across CU's locations came together for the 2024 Sankofa Conference 

Sankofa is a tremendous example of what is possible when we strive to live by Dr. King’s principles—to endeavor to do what is right and to bring people along on that journey with us. I want to thank our CU students, staff, and faculty for their heartfelt efforts in celebration and recognition of Black History Month. I truly believe that the work we are doing together is making an impact, both in our campus communities and the communities they call home.

Maya Angelou said, “We may encounter defeats, but we must not be defeated.” Progress does not mean perfection and though there may be times when it feels like every step we take forward leads to two steps back, I encourage you to remember the words of Ms. Angelou. When you encounter defeats or experience hardships, when the world is less than kind and injustice seems to prevail, take heart in knowing that you are surrounded by people who care about you and share your values. Take heart in the words and lessons of leaders like Dr. King who kept pushing forward no matter what. And he did so with the support of good, and kind, and caring people who saw the world the same way he did—for all its beauty, possibility and flaws.

As Black History Month comes to an end, my hope is that you will take its lessons and inspiration with you and work to make positive changes through your words and actions. It is truly amazing what can be accomplished when we all make small steps together in the same direction.

Bashar W. Hanna, President 

A month of good deeds and great speakers

As President of BU, I often have an opportunity to talk about our students and share their inspirational stories of determination and success. It’s not as frequent that I have the chance to sing the praises of an important extension of our BU family: the parents and supporters of our students. I will take that opportunity now to say how fortunate we are to have such great students and families who are willing to go the extra mile on behalf of others.

In a recent post in one of our BU parent Facebook groups, it was mentioned that some of our students face food insecurity issues – and how heartwarming it was to hear of the positive response to this post! Multiple parents sent so many care packages and food donations to our campus, and BU was able to deliver more than three carloads of food to the Bloomsburg Food Cupboard, which collaborates with the University to provide food for BU students in need.

THANK YOU to all those parents who stepped up and supported this great cause. Because of your generosity, our students (and residents of the Town of Bloomsburg) were able to find the assistance they needed for a basic requirement we sometimes take for granted. Thank you again.

As we conclude the month of February, I’d also like to thank my colleagues who were instrumental in coordinating recent events in celebration of Black History Month. Two tremendously powerful speakers that visited us here at BU were Mr. Bakari Sellers, a lawyer and political commentator who spoke about the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and
Mr. Yusef Salem, a member of the “Central Park Five” (one of a group of five boys whose convictions for a crime they did not commit were eventually overturned) who served as the keynote speaker at our annual Sankofa Conference.

Finally, we’re proud to share the story of Ms. Edith Angeline Dennis, Bloomsburg’s first African American boarding student and a member of the Class of 1919. Her – and her family’s – story is an inspiring one, and it’s one we share with the entire BU family in the latest edition of Bloomsburg: The University Magazine. Enjoy!

Bashar