Black History Month 2026

RU-N with Legacy: Celebrating 100+ Years of Black Excellence

February marks Black History Month, a time to recognize and honor the contributions, achievements, and resilience of Black individuals who have shaped our society—past and present.

In celebration of this legacy, Rutgers University–Newark invites the campus community to engage in RU-N with Legacy: Celebrating 100+ Years of Black Excellence, a month-long series of student-led programs highlighting Black history, culture, creativity, leadership, and community. Learn more about our upcoming Black history month programs and how to RSVP here: https://go.rutgers.edu/RU-N.blackhistorymonth2026

Black Boy Joy Conference
FEBRUARY 16, 2026
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Express Newark
Join this RU-N community-led conference highlighting positive representations of Black masculinity and building pathways for Black youth to explore identity in supportive environments.
Hosted by: Chancellor’s Office, Social Work Department, BOS, BPN, Dominican Talks, HPD, and partners

Civil Rights: Through the Courts
FEBRUARY 17, 2026
2:00 PM – 4:30 PM | PRCC Bergen Rooms
Discover how Civil Rights were pushed forward through the court system and legal battles, featuring historians and legal professionals.
Hosted by: RU-N History Club

Know Your Rights: Beyond the Bars
FEBRUARY 17, 2026
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Express Newark
Explore how constitutional protections—such as due process, equal protection, and protections against excessive force—are applied, limited, or violated in real-world encounters with law enforcement and immigration systems.
Hosted by: Black Organization of Students (BOS)

Marion Thompson Wright Lecture Series
FEBRUARY 21, 2026
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Paul Robeson Campus Center
Explore “Beyond Time: Ancient Africa, History and the Black Imagination,” examining African history before the arrival of European explorers.
Hosted by: Clement A. Price Institute

Location: Various Locations, See Website