Happy Black History Month!
Black History Month is an annual celebration of the achievements of Black and African Americans in U.S. history. Its origins began as early as 1915, when scholar Carter G. Woodson, in collaboration with other Black and African Americans, suggested the idea. Since then, it has grown into a week-long celebration of what we know today.
This month and every month, we honor the contributions and legacy of the Black community across the African diaspora. This includes stories that are often told and those who have been overlooked. I am captivated by the narratives of Black and African Americans and how Black culture and contributions have shaped history.
On campus, there are several resources dedicated to serving the needs of Black students and ample ways that Black Trojans have made their mark on campus. The Center for Black Cultural and Student Affairs (CBCSA) is just one example. Founded in 1977, CBCSA supports the “retention of Black students as they matriculate through the Trojan experience toward graduation, while maintaining a holistic environment that students can develop academically, culturally, professionally and socially”. There are also organizations like the Black Student Assembly and Sommerville Place, a special interest residential floor dedicated to cultivating the Black community and identity.
Sommerville Place is named after Drs. John and Vada Sommerville, the first Black graduates of the USC School of Dentistry. John and Vada Sommerville later went on to make an impact on USC’s campus and across Los Angeles as activists, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists. The Sommervilles were influential in founding the NAACP in Los Angeles, as their home served as its site and Hotel Sommerville (later the Dunbar Hotel), one of the few places that welcomed Black guests. However, Hotel Sommerville quickly became a prominent destination for those visiting and living in Los Angeles.
Image Source: NAACP
USC’s Sommerville Place was established in 1955 as a home away from home for Black and African American students.
Sommerville Place is a vibrant community that nurtures academic success, leadership, self-direction, and personal growth. In the spirit of its namesake, it highlights Black culture and cultivates a sense of family and community.
Check out what our students say about their experiences living in Sommerville Place!
And celebrate with the USC Thornton School of Music and the USC community through the annual Black Family Reunion celebrating this year’s theme of "Black Brilliance: Honoring Labor, Legacy, and the Joy of Excellence." You will also find other events on campus including the Black History Month Block Party held at the Health Sciences Campus with several Black-owned businesses and community organizations.
“Perhaps home is not a place but simply an irrevocable condition”- James Baldwin
Sources:
https://cbcsa.usc.edu/
Written by: Jonna German - Associate Director, Office of Undergraduate Admissions