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Resources and organizations to explore this Black History Month

Graphic featuring the Dome and Black History Month colors

Each February, the United States celebrates Black History Month, a time to reflect on the legacy and accomplishments of Black Americans.

Throughout the month, check in with the University of Notre Dame and Fighting Irish social media accounts to learn more about the many contributions of Notre Dame’s Black community members and learn more about events taking place on campus in honor of Black History Month.

“Throughout our history, Black Americans have never given up on the promise of America,” U.S. President Joseph R. Biden wrote in A Proclamation on National Black History Month, 2024. “Unbowed by the forces of hate and undaunted as they fought for centuries against slavery, segregation, and injustice, Black Americans have held a mirror up to our Nation, allowing our country to confront hard truths about who we are and pushing us to live up to our founding ideals.”

There are many ways to expand your knowledge of Black history in the U.S. and join in commemorating this month.

To explore origins of Black History Month as well as significant moments, achievements and reflections of the Black experience, consider the following resources:

For perspectives on life at Notre Dame for Black students, read Black Domers—a compilation of 75 personal essays beginning with the first African-American to graduate from Notre Dame in 1947 to a member of the class of 2017 who also served as student body president.

You can also learn more about the organizations that exist across campus to help Black faculty, staff, students, and alumni connect with and build community within the larger Notre Dame community, including:

  • Black Faculty and Staff Association (BFSA)—The BFSA is an employee resource group dedicated to the recruitment, support, positive valuation of, and inclusion of Black faculty and staff at the University of Notre Dame. The employee resource group also hosts engagement opportunities within the Notre Dame and broader Michiana community, provides spiritual development events, and sponsors forums to discuss issues of university, local, national and international concern. Learn more at bfsa.nd.edu.

  • Black Student Association (BSA)—This student club helps to strengthen the connection between the Black community and the wider Notre Dame community. Connect with them on Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and X/Twitter.

  • Black Graduate Student Association (BGSA)—The purpose of the BGSA is to promote social and cultural cohesion, establish unity among Black graduate students, support the expansion of cultural diversity through recruitment and retention efforts and to ensure academic and structural support within ourselves and between our fellow educational peers. For more information, please email bgsa@nd.edu.

  • Black Law Students Association (BLSA)—Established at Notre Dame in 1972, BLSA is a chapter of the National Black Law Students Association. BLSA’s mission is to increase the number of culturally responsible Black and minority attorneys who excel academically, succeed professionally, and influence the community positively. Click this link to learn more.

  • Black Business Association of Notre Dame (BBAND)—This organization connects minority and underrepresented students to highly skilled, rewarding careers in the business and STEM world by cultivating networks between students and employers and offering mentorship and guidance throughout students' academic careers. Connect with them on LinkedIn or Instagram.

  • Black Alumni of Notre Dame—Under its mission statement, Black Alumni of ND conducts a set of unique programs that have resulted in the establishment of an effective and on-going black alumni network; professional and geographical mentoring for the incumbent student body; provision of ethnic support to local club's Alumni Schools Committee; active recruiting for faculty and administrative job openings; support to graduate school minority student recruiting; and provision of support to the Alumni Association's quest for cultural diversity.