The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) began its annual Black History Month observance on January 28, 2026, with a Pan-African flag-raising outside Trenton Hall and an opening ceremony hosted by the college’s Black Student Union (BSU).
This year’s theme, “Celebrating Black Expressionism,” was chosen by the BSU to recognize the impact of Black and African American artists and creators in areas such as crafts, design, film, music, performing arts, publishing, software and gaming, and television.
“This year’s theme speaks to the origins of the Black Student Union, which was founded 45 years ago this year,” said Jay Pearson ’26, BSU president.
“Black expressionism is creativity as survival,” said Ebony Riley ’26, BSU vice president. “It is the art, activism, storytelling, rhythm, and resistance that have carried us through every dark and uncertain period in our history. When injustice grows louder, our voices grow more luminous. When uncertainty threatens to strip us, our creativity expands. This is the power of our history.”
Additional remarks at the kickoff event were delivered by BSU event chairs Amaia Foster ’28 and Janai Burke ’28; Tacquice Wiggan Davis, vice president for inclusive excellence; and Zakiya Adair, professor of women’s, gender, and sexuality studies and African American studies. Robert Scott ’28 performed “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” known as the Black National Anthem. Anthony Berchie ’27 and Carl White ’27 assisted with raising the Pan-African flag.
Throughout February, TCNJ will hold educational and cultural events organized by the BSU in partnership with student groups, campus offices and academic departments. Planned activities include an African American Studies faculty teach-in on environmental and social injustice; a dining collaboration featuring special menu items in Eickhoff Hall; and a guest lecture by J.T. Roane from Rutgers University.
All members of TCNJ are invited to attend these events. A full calendar is available online along with registration details where required.
The monthlong series is managed by TCNJ’s Black History Month Planning Committee in coordination with the Division of Inclusive Excellence, TCNJ BSU and Department of African American Studies. All events are free unless otherwise noted.
TCNJ was established in 1855 as a normal school in New Jersey before transitioning into a selective public institution offering programs across disciplines such as arts, business and engineering on its 289-acre campus in Ewing Township https://tcnj.edu. The college emphasizes critical thinking skills while fostering leadership development among students https://tcnj.edu.
