Panthers commemorated Black History Month across the university this month at more than 20 events highlighting the contributions of Black Americans to societal and technological advancement; cultural persistence and resilience; and the intersection of race, ethnicity, and identity.
The varied events – attended by hundreds – showcased music, dance, literature, art, cuisine, spiritualism, artificial intelligence, and history. Open to all members of the university and the community, these events were by programs spanning FIU, including the Centers for Student Engagement, Student Government Association, Black Student Union, African and African Diaspora Studies, Global Indigenous Forum, and more.
“When Dr. Carter G. Woodson founded Negro History Week in 1926, which became Black History Month in 1976, he did so with the idea of celebrating and educating people on the achievements and contributions of Black Americans,” said David Bynes, director of the Centers for Student Engagement, which helps coordinate programming efforts taking place across the university during months of heritage observance. “So, with FIU being a Minority-Serving Institution, I believe it is of critical importance that the institution observes Black History Month in order to continuously honor the courageous spirit and strength of Black culture as we strive to promote understanding and appreciation.”
Take a look at a few of the highlights from Black History Month at FIU:
The month kicked off with a Kompa concert hosted by the Student Programming Council in the GC Ballrooms featuring popular musicians Kenny Haiti and 5Lan. Kompa is a meringue-based style of music and dance that originated in Haiti and has permeated dance culture worldwide.
At Black Student Union Homecoming 2025, students enjoyed Caribbean- and Southern-style food trucks, performed drumline and step routines, received personalized t-shirts made-to-order, and more in the plaza outside Tamiami Hall.
Kali Reis, an Emmy-nominated actress and champion boxer, met with students following FIU’s Black History Month keynote event, the Resilient Rhythms Symposium. In a conversation moderated by Tomanisa Chupca, Ed.D., Reis shared that boxing became her safe haven from a young age as she searched for her sense of self having grown up sharing both Seaconke Wampanoag Tribe and Cape Verdean heritage.
“I fight in the ring physically for what we’ve been doing as a people for centuries. I fight for not just my people and my tribe, but for all nations… It wasn’t for the belt, it wasn’t for being on TV, it was the fact that I get to go to places like Bermuda, back to where our people were taken as slaves, and bring them back home – so to speak, because my ancestors weren’t able to go home,” Reis said. “Or getting an inbox from a parent who has a mixed Indigenous and Black kid who wants to commit suicide but saw me fighting on HBO and they found hope in me. That was kind of like the transformative piece, when I found a purpose for doing what I did.”
In a panel discussion on the persistence of Afro-Indigenous culture, University of Miami archaeology doctoral student Gabriella Sanchez Torres (pictured left alongside Chupca), whose Puerto Rican heritage includes African and Indigenous roots, shared that she recently sat down with her grandmother to record a three-hour-long oral history of her family’s life to ensure it is not forgotten when her grandmother passes.
“Oral histories are a testament of a community’s resilience. Many generations of people thought a story was important enough that they wanted future generations to remember it, even through colonialism or through genocide, et cetera,” Sanchez Torres said.
Art and design took center stage at the BSU Fashion Show at the Biscayne Bay Campus, which highlighted student models and local designers’ creations in vibrant, African-inspired patterns and motifs.
As the month came to a close, students gathered in the GC Pit for the Black History Month Block Party, featuring food, music and dance performances, a step competition, giveaways, and a lot of fun. Click the image to view the highlight reel on @FIU_CSE's Instagram.
Next up, FIU will honor Women’s History Month with a series of professional development workshops, panel discussions, social events, and more throughout March. Register online for the annual Women Who Lead Conference, this year taking place in the GC Ballrooms on March 19.