{"id":65383,"date":"2025-01-31T12:41:06","date_gmt":"2025-01-31T17:41:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/?p=65383"},"modified":"2025-10-22T10:50:52","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T14:50:52","slug":"a-celebration-of-firsts-utc-recognizes-black-history-month-with-campuswide-events","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/2025\/01\/a-celebration-of-firsts-utc-recognizes-black-history-month-with-campuswide-events\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cA Celebration of Firsts\u201d: UTC recognizes Black History Month with campuswide events\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Students

Students enjoyed local cuisine at Taste of Black Chattanooga during Black History Month 2024. Photo by Angela Foster.<\/p><\/div>\n

February is Black History Month, a time to honor the history, achievements and contributions of Black individuals and communities.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga will host a series of events to highlight and celebrate these legacies. This year\u2019s theme is \u201cA Celebration of Firsts,\u201d which Assistant Director of Multicultural Affairs Chris Stokes said \u201cshares the stories of individuals and achievements that have made significant impacts on campus, the local Chattanooga community, the nation and abroad.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The campus\u2019 Black History Month kickoff event <\/span>will t<\/span>ake place from noon-2 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 3, in the Lupton Hall Lobby.\u00a0<\/span>The celebration includes the fourth annual Taste of Black Chattanooga<\/span><\/b><\/a>, which features cuisine from local vendors.<\/span><\/p>\n

Taste of Black Chattanooga\u00a0is\u00a0<\/span>co-hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Student Success Programs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another UTC tradition is the Black History Month timeline, a month-long display in the Multicultural Center\u2019s Lupton Hall office highlighting significant contributions and achievements throughout Black history.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Stokes shared some of the new events the campus community can look forward to, including <\/span>Food Truck Friday<\/span><\/b><\/a>, which will bring food truck cuisine to Oak Street from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy Not Win? With Larry Thornton,\u201d<\/span><\/b><\/a> from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 13, in the Wolford Family Athletics Center, will feature Larry Thornton\u2014Birmingham\u2019s first African American McDonald\u2019s franchise owner\u2014sharing his journey from the Jim Crow South to success in business and leadership.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A pair of national HIV awareness events will be taking place as part of the month’s activities. Friday, Feb. 7, is HIV Awareness Day, and the National Society of Black Women in Medicine will be in the Lupton Hall Lobby from noon-2 p.m. with resources and information on HIV awareness. Free HIV testing and resources will be provided by CEMPA Community Care from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 19.<\/span> HIV awareness events are sponsored by the Center for Wellbeing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Throughout the month, people may visit the <\/span>UTC Library\u2019s Black History Month collection<\/span><\/b><\/a> to see an online display of resources, including e-books, feature films and documentaries.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis month creates opportunities to honor the landmark experiences of African Americans in their respective fields and highlight the intellectual and collective contributions that champion excellence and inspire innovation,\u201d Stokes said. \u201cWe encourage campus to participate in these events and engage with the stories being shared.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

UTC Black History Month events also include:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n