Stanislaus State honored Black History Month with a series of events throughout February, celebrating the importance of joy, liberation, spirituality, healing, and empowerment in the Black community.

These events included a:
2025 Black History Month Kick-off,
Toward Apocalyptic Education: Addressing Radicalized Stress and Community Healing presentation,
Black Love Tarot Reading,
Black Infant Health Panel,
Black Voices: Movie Night screening of Moonlight,
7th Annual Black Power Matters: Malcolm X at 100,
two presentations by Professor Bret Caroll on Black History Month and the Voting Rights Act,
Album Unpacking Party: Gospel Edition and
Black Joy and Liberation workshop.

The events were coupled with an ongoing Poster Exhibit arranged by the Black Faculty & Staff Association and Student Leadership, Engagement & Belonging in the Stan State Library. These posters featured portraits and descriptions of numerous Black historical and contemporary icons.

Some of these Black figures included Rosa Parks, James Baldwin, Mae C. Jemison, Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Muhammad Ali, Serena Williams and Barack Obama. Their importance in history spans various fields: art, music, literature, film, athletics, activism, politics and so on.

One of the events that highlighted spiritual healing and empowerment in the Black community was the Album Unpacking Party: Gospel Edition, taking place on Feb. 26 from 5-7 p.m. in the Warrior Cross Cultural Center (WCCC) Conference Room.

Black Student Success Coordinator Myisha Bulter-Ibawi and WCCC Event Coordinator Adrianna “Nana” Lomas planned and hosted the evening.

“The Album Unpacking Party is a brainchild of myself and Nana, so I’m really excited to see the different places that this is going to grow,” Butler-Ibawi said about the event. “We wanted to focus on gospel music this month.”

Butler-Ibawi explained how spirituality is a staple of the Black experience and has contributed to holding the Black community together in the face of oppression. The event also provided a chance to celebrate how Christianity has contributed to the liberation, healing, and overall spiritual health of the Black community.

Although gospel music derives from Christianity, different variations of spirituality were honored.

Some songs featured were “I Smile” by Kirk Franklin, “Is You Riding for the Lord” by Kayijah, “Player’s Prayer” by Lloyd and “Not Alone” by SSTEDI.

Though all spread the word of the gospel, the songs were of varying genres, such as hip-hop, Afro-lo-fi beats, soul and R&B.

The rhythm of each song filled the room as students swayed or sang along. After the attendees shared their thoughts and interpretations, Butler-Ibawi asked a question that invited them to reflect on how the song’s subject matter relates to their lives.

The questions allowed attendees to share moments where spirituality helped them during rough times in their lives and discuss what spirituality means to them.

Jordain Johnson (Senior, Communications), president of Chi Alpha and member of the Black Student Union (BSU), attended the event.

According to the Stan State Diversity and Equity Data Portal, Black students make up around 2% of the student body, so for Johnson, Black representation on campus provides an inviting space.

“When I walk into a room that’s specifically for Black people, it makes me more comfortable,” Johnson said, “I think events like this really show people that the Black community is here.”

Johnson added that he liked how the Album Unpacking Party gave Black men a safe space to be vulnerable.

“I think Black men usually put up a wall, but it seemed like once one guy started getting vulnerable, another guy got vulnerable, and then another,” Johnson shared, “and then all of a sudden, it became a healthy place that lacked judgment.”

“I think that wall that I mentioned is even more prevalent here in Turlock. You can forget about comfortable spaces, there’s just not a lot of spaces in general for Black people, so to see that wall crumble down in a place like this is a beautiful sight,” Johnson added.

Another attendee, Savannah Parrish (Junior, Computer Science) liked that she could listen to people’s different perspectives on the same song.

“A lot of the time when you listen to gospel music, you listen to it as a community, but you rarely get a chance to actually interpret the music,” Parrish said.

“I learned that my experiences are relatable and that other people have gone through some of the same things,” she added.

As the Album Unpacking Party came to a close, those present bowed their heads and Johnson concluded the evening in prayer.