Atlantic Cape Kicks Off Black History Month Festivities with Educational Events and Entertainment at All Three Campuses

MAYS LANDING — Dozens of students, faculty and staff gathered outdoors on a sunny and windy afternoon as Atlantic Cape Community College raised the Pan-African flag on the Mays Landing campus Quad on February 4 to officially begin the College’s month-long celebration of Black History Month across all three campuses.

“Today is a powerful symbolization of the unity and resemblance of the African culture,” said Student Government Association President Juwan Torres. “Furthermore, today is a day for us to continue to pass down our African heritage to those that have African backgrounds.”

The Pan-African flag’s red, black and green colors symbolize freedom, pride and power for Black Americans. The flag was created as a unifying symbol in 1920 by political activist, journalist and speaker Marcus Garvey and members of the UNIA.

Black Student Alliance President Chaunice Murphy spoke of the importance that Black History Month holds for everyone.

“Black History Month is a celebration of culture, heritage, perseverance, strength, unity, dignity and love. To celebrate a culture is to not diminish others, but to bring forth the learning experience of all lives,” said Murphy, a freshman Computer Programming major from Buena. “This flag represents the entire black diaspora and connects each and every one of us. This month has so much significance for everyone because Black history is American history. Black culture cannot be explained. It can only be experienced and shared.”

Signed into law by President Gerald R. Ford in 1976, Black History Month was first conceived as an idea in 1926 by historian Carter G. Woodson and members of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. The month of February was selected to coincide with the birthdays of President Abraham Lincoln, the father of the Emancipation Proclamation, and abolitionist, author and orator Frederick Douglass.

Following the flag raising ceremony, an Afro-Brazilian folkloric troupe of dancers, musicians and singers performed in the Student Center lobby as students and employees joined in the fun by dancing and performing.

At the Charles D. Worthington Atlantic City campus, a Pan-African flag raising ceremony was held, as well. Atlantic Cape Student Services Navigator Vita Stovall spoke to those in attendance about Black History Month’s past, why it is celebrated nationally, who was responsible for its creation, why it is celebrated in February and how it went from a weekly holiday to a month-long celebration.

View a photo gallery of this event here on Flickr.

Visit atlanticcape.edu/bhmevents for a complete schedule of Black History Month events being held at Atlantic Cape’s three campuses throughout the month of February. All programs and events this month are free and open to students, faculty and staff.

About Atlantic Cape Community College

Atlantic Cape Community College is a Middle States accredited, 2022 Achieving the Dream Leader College and Hispanic Serving Institution proudly serving the residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties. As a comprehensive, two-year community college, Atlantic Cape offers 47 undergraduate degree programs, and 33 certificate and workforce development professional series programs at its Mays Landing, Atlantic City and Cape May campuses. Atlantic Cape is home to the renowned Academy of Culinary Arts, rated the top culinary school in New Jersey, and for more than 50 years, our highly-acclaimed Nursing program. Atlantic Cape also partners with several four-year universities to offer students the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree without having to leave home.