During February 2018, Elgin Community College celebrated Black History Month with a series of events on campus to explain and teach African American culture and how it has come to be over time.

ECC staff members and the student club Black Student Achievers made up the committee that hosted the events.

“Events were created based on input from students and staff as part of the committee,” said Brittany Barber, the coordinator for the series of events. “Decisions were made by voting.”

The events that took place after the kick-off breakfast included a film screening about heritage, presence, and contributions of African Americans in Elgin, a group event that allowed attendees to connect with local African American legends, and a discussion about incomplete race from a multicultural perspective. 

Alongside ECC staff and students were the guest speakers. Mayor of Elgin, David Captain, and Elgin City Councilman Corey Dixon, who helped celebrate by sharing their thoughts on the culture and heritage

Chaquille Bennett, the president of BSA, says that in contrast to the events of last year, the content and cultural relevance was the same. The difference came in the attendance, as this year the number of attendees greatly increased.

Eric Banks, the vice president of BSA, states that BSA’s role of contribution came with their attendance. For each event, Bennett and Banks had to start off and share their own thoughts on each topic.

The celebration was a success for the committee and shows the positivity in the Elgin community.