Black History Month

Lissette Escariz Ferrá in a red, orange and pink dress standing outdoors
Why does the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” still speak to us today? Third-year PhD student and composition instructor Lissette Escariz Ferrá helps her students understand.
A black and white image overlaid with green, yellow and red tint, of a protest. A person is holding a sign that says "Racism is the biggest pandemic"
Artists have until Feb. 1 to submit their work to the “Don’t Look Away: Because Mattering is the Minimum” exhibit, which asks the question, “What does Black Lives Matter mean to you?” The exhibit will travel to all Pitt campuses and feature performances.
Three people in purple robes in a dark building with wood walls
Beginning on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and continuing through Black History Month, an initiative led by Pitt’s Office of Interfaith Dialogue and Engagement seeks stories and images about faith, race and culture.
Ervin Dyer outdoors in a light blue dress shirt and tie
A pilot program that connects students in an Introduction to Africana Studies course to residents in the Hill District is helping create a bridge from the University to the community.
Stephanie Adams, dean of the Eric Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Texas at Dallas, shared the story of her career path with Pitt students, faculty and staff during a lecture in honor of Black History Month.
Stephanie Adams of the University of Texas at Dallas didn’t follow a straightforward path to become a university dean. She shared her story with members of the Swanson School of Engineering community on Feb. 25. For Pitt engineering students like Isreal Williams, who is himself a mentor to high school students, hearing stories of unusual journeys to success is vital.
An Olympic medal from 1936
The 1936 Berlin Olympic Games were famous for Jesse Owens’ sweeping victories, but did you know that Pitt shares in the history too? A 21-year-old runner named John Woodruff (A&S ’39) paused mid-race and still managed to win the 800 meter competition. Pitt has his gold medal.
Ella P. Stewart
In addition to making history at Pitt, Ella P. Stewart (PHARM 1916) was the first Black woman pharmacist licensed in Pennsylvania, as well as one of the first Black women licensed to practice pharmacy in the United States.
The KanKouran West African Dance Company dancing on stage in bright yellow and orange attire.
Born of a lunchtime conversation among three women faculty members and sponsored by multiple units on campus, the upcoming “Black to the Future” festival will showcase artistic talent, resilience and innovation.
Josh Gibson sliding home in a baseball uniform
For The Conversation, Professor Rob Ruck detailed a brief history of the Negro Leagues, the integration of Major League Baseball and how Pittsburgh played an influential role in the new face of the game.