No matter what time of the year it is, Silas Dulan, director of multicultural affairs, is always celebrating his African American pride.
“I’m very proud of where I come from,” Dulan said. “I’m proud of my background. I’m proud of my people, essentially. I’m proud to be Black.”
But during the month of February, also known as Black History Month, Dulan is especially passionate about celebrating this pride, and sharing his culture with others.
“We’ve got scientists, we’ve got entertainers, we’ve got musicians, we’ve got anything you want,” he said. “Any type of category you want to select, you can throw in at least three or four or more African Americans to that category, and they will shine. Times like now is to uplift the African American community, and I love doing that.”
In order for Baker University students to get a better look at black history, Mungano and the Office of Multicultural Affairs are hosting several events on campus during the month of February.
Mungano is hosting the Soul Food Dinner Sunday in Allen Dining Hall. Students are able to purchase tickets for the event for $4, or $5 at the door.
Mungano is also showing movies at 11 a.m. every Wednesday this month in the Harter Union Lobby.
Closer to the end of the month, from Feb. 24-27, members of Mungano are going to the 34th-annual Black Student Government Conference in Columbia, Mo.
Dulan said this will be a very positive experience for the students going.
Those students, like sophomore Kelley Jenkins, are using this month and these events to remember their history and heritage.
Jenkins said her mother always helped to make sure her and her siblings were constantly getting to know more about Black history. She would read them books about different African Americans, in addition to taking them to see plays, one-man shows and musicians.
But this education didn’t stop at childhood.
“Here at Baker, I learned so much more about what’s going on around me and learning more about racism that’s still held on within America still today,” Jenkins said.
Junior John Babb enjoys the diversity he’s experienced, both in high school and at Baker, and also is excited to be celebrating Black History Month.
“This month is special just because, like, it’s an entire 28 days dedicated to people that struggled through lots of different trials and tribulations,” Babb said. “Between slavery, and then segregation, and civil rights movement, all those different things, and to get to where we are today with a black president, it’s huge. It’s a month just to think about our roots and pay homage to those who came before us.”
