Black History Month 2026 Call for Proposals
The Paul Robeson Cultural Center is preparing for Black History Month 2026 and invites campus partners across the university—including student organizations, academic departments, and administrative units—to submit their events for inclusion on our campus-wide Black History Month calendar.
2026 Theme: Celebrating 100 Years: Black History, Black Presence, and Black Futures
2026 marks a historic centennial—100 years of nationally commemorating Black history. In 1915, Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson and fellow scholars founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), institutionalizing the teaching, study, and celebration of Black history. A decade later, in 1925, Dr. Carter G. Woodson established Negro History Week, which evolved into the Black History Month observance that has become an integral part of American culture and the global community.
As we commemorate this centennial, the founders' vision inspires us to examine the profound impact of Black history and life on the modern world. Our theme—Celebrating 100 Years: Black History, Black Presence, and Black Futures—invites our campus community to reflect on a century of resistance, resilience, and renaissance while envisioning the futures we continue to build together.
Please submit your programming and initiatives by our priority deadline: January 12th, 2026.
Save the Date for these signature events!
- February 1st, 2026 - Black History Month Opening Ceremonies hosted by Black Student Union
- February 12, 2026 - Black History Month SparkNight hosted by the Zimmerli Art Museum
- February 18, 2026 - Culture of Success Leadership & Career Conference & Career Fair hosted by Career Exploration & Success & the PRCC
- February 26, 2026 - Black History Month Closing Gala hosted by the Paul Robeson Cultural Center’s Black History Month Planning Committee
Interested in Hosting a Program?
Are you interested in hosting a program but not sure of what your organization can contribute. Our Black History Month Planning Committee has compiled a list of potential ideas for the Rutgers community.
- Signature/Marquee Events
- Paul Robeson Plaza rededication ceremony
- Black-owned business popup shops/festival
- MLB negro history day, Athletics (basketball, former Rutgers athletes)
- Jersey Mikes games in spring: Acknowledgement/Announcement
- Academic Programming (lectures, panels, symposiums)
- Research symposium/lecture series/brown bag series
- Academic dept highlights of contributions of Black/African scholars or work focus on Africana
- Lectures on key contributions of Black scholars across disciplines
- Lecture by Rutgers Faculty or key speakers
- Best Discovery LLC- : Black alumni in health and medical fields. Joint partnership with academic arm of discovery advantage
- Round tables or discussions on BHM topics student centers or dining halls
- History of Livingston College
- Arts & Culture (performances, exhibitions, film screenings)
- Athletics indoor/outdoor performances (Greek, etc); Women's basketball
- NB arts/performance Crossroads theater & State theater
- Art walks: NB cultural arts center fearing arts??
- Rutgers cinema airing black films/movies (week long)
- Scarlet Arts RX healing reflection spaces
- Scarlet letters press creates prints
- Black owned vendors, farmers market
- Center Black joy and culture, celebrate together, music/performances
- Black Greek Letter orgs history + legacy showcase and historically black orgs (NAACP, Urban League?)
- Student-Led Activities
- Photo Campaign: I am a Scarlet Knight
- Storytelling Series
- Affinity Groups students and alumni networking events
- Bingo round with events to win RU swag (participation + buy in)
- Train the Trainer ⇒ Program delivery in residence hall
- Black history boards, key historical rutgers alumni, on resident hall bulletin boards
- __Black & _______ Celebrate the intersections within the community
- Community Partnerships
- Scarlet Sense: Power & the dollar
- Local Black History Trail
- Crossroads theater & State theater
- Service projects that center the Black community
- Visiting local elementary schools - reading Black stories; Black authors; visiting local libraries
- Black-owned business popup shops/festival
- Affinity Group collaboration for faculty and staff
- Digital/Social Media Campaigns
- Mobile Billboard
- Photo Campaign: I am a Scarlet Knight
- Digital companies on screens, what BHM means to me. Student centers/resident halls
- STEM Black history facts/highlights events or socials content (digital boards)
- Visual/Environmental Installations
- Classrooms/public spaces: posters of historic figures
- Library: feature relevant books
- Books written by Black authors
- Wall of quotes - placed in different locations throughout campus
- (Parade of figures) Outdoor sign posts (where Rutgers banners are)
- Pan African colors on campus map branded material like behind block R?
- Yard sign: BHM 2026 100 years
- BHM pop up with history items (black market vintage)
- Scarlet & Black archives
- Food & Dining Experiences
- Dining Hall: Soul food traditional meal
- Dining halls eat around the world? Different cultures, countries etc
- Prominent Black Chef
- Remembrance & Reflection
- Remembrance of those lost to racial violence
- Scarlet arts RX healing reflection spaces
- Storytelling Series
