Browsing: Black History Month 2024

When Barbara Ann Walker and the Rev. Robert Gilbert walked across the graduation stage on June 2, 1967, Baylor University had gone over 120 years without granting a degree to a Black student. The story of Baylor’s integration is long, challenging and still developing, but more than anything, it is a story centered around the actions not of governments or university administrations but of outspoken support from students themselves.

Following the 1954 Supreme Court case Brown v. the Board of Education — which began a decadeslong process of the racial integration of public schools — Baylor voluntarily adopted racial integration in 1963. While the university has made strides to embrace diversity and inclusion on campus since then, members of the Baylor community say there is always work to be done.

With Black History Month commencing this week, we have the opportunity to highlight these businesses in our community. It is likely they will be receiving a bit more traffic than they typically would in any other given month due to the outpouring of support from locals in honor of the month. However, considering all that Black business owners go through in order to keep their businesses alive, shouldn’t we be giving them the credit they’re due year-round?

As Black History Month kicks off, it is important to highlight and celebrate the careers and achievements of young Black women who are making their mark on Hollywood. There is no shortage of them, but here are just a few of the most influential and prominent Black actresses who are pioneering a more diverse industry.

Celebrating Black History Month in Waco can mean visiting Black-owned restaurants and businesses, but there are a host of other events and learning opportunities on campus and throughout the city all month long.