Explore Black History and Culture at Georgia College & State University

Black History Month is an international celebration that offers Americans, especially, the opportunity to recommit ourselves to our foundational ideals of freedom and equality.

Begun as a weeklong commemoration of Black history, American Historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson proposed the observance that has become Black History Month as a challenge to all people to recognize the stories of countless Black men and women who contributed to the advancement of human civilization. In doing so, he asked everyone to reconsider our understanding of history, not as a list of the accomplishments of great individuals, but as a story of the aspirations of a great people and our progress toward those goals. 

Although Black History Month is celebrated in the month of February, it’s meant to inspire ongoing reflection on the diversity that strengthens our collective identity as Americans and as true global citizens. As an institution of higher education, Georgia College & State University works to contribute to the broad understanding of human progress. Embarking upon this celebration of Black History Month, we’d like to highlight some of the resources available on our campus for learning more about Black history and culture:

Horsepower: An Exhibition by Cedric Smith – An exhibit of paintings by Smith, exploring the absence of Black representation among haute couture and in print and television advertisements. On display at the Leland Gallery in Ennis Hall through Friday, February 9.

Common Heritage: Reframing and Reconsidering the Community's Memories from the Perspective of Those Who Lived Them – A grant-funded collaboration between the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Common Heritage Program and the Ina Dillard Russell Library to document and preserve the overlooked history of Milledgeville’s African American community. The project encourages people to preserve their history by digitizing historical documents such as papers and pictures. An exhibit developed from contributed digital artifacts is on display in the Russell Library.

Georgia’s Old Governor’s Mansion, Labor Behind the Veil Tour – This specialized tour of Georgia’s Old Governor’s Mansion interprets antebellum life through the perspective of the people who toiled behind the veil of slavery and the free persons who worked at the mansion during the time of the governors. This tour gives a more in-depth and focused view on topics mentioned in the mansion's daily tour.   

The Sallie Ellis Davis House – Sallie Ellis Davis worked her entire career as a teacher and principal at the Eddy School to touch the lives of Baldwin County children. Ms. Davis was an inspiration and a pillar of the African American community in segregated Milledgeville. She believed that through a combination of hard work and education one could accomplish anything. Her legacy, preserved in her home, is one of excellence. 

The Soul of Georgia -- “The Soul of Georgia” documents the development of a distinct facet of American cultural history through the music of Black, Georgia musicians. A collection of music, video, photographs and memorabilia are on display in the Ina Dillard Russell Library Special Collections Galleries with a digital exhibit accessible online, “The Soul of Georgia” tells how Black artists shaped the sound of America—beginning in Southern churches, juke joints and summer picnics, exploding over regional radio and finding a home on record players throughout the United State and across the world.

Sodexo Soul Food Thursdays -- Chef Enoch Rutherford will explore the influence and proliferation of southern food traditions through a series of featured meals served from the Chef’s Table in the Max between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., each Thursday during February.