´ºÃÎÖ±²¥

, or African American History Month, occurs every February. It pays tribute to and celebrates the achievements of Black Americans and acknowledges the central role of African Americans in United States history.

´ºÃÎÖ±²¥ celebrates led by faculty, staff, and students that celebrate, honor, and recognize the work and culture of Black people. Please join us as we welcome Co-Chair of the Women's March and Co-Founder of Until Freedom, Tamika Mallory, as this year's keynote speaker for Black History Month: Black Lives STILL Matter. The keynote address will also include a Q&A hosted and moderated by the Multicultural Student Association (MSA).

The keynote will take place on Thursday, February 18 at 7 pm.

Tamika D. Mallory is a Harlem-born, award-winning social justice leader, activist, and mother. Quick-witted, strategic, and bold, Tamika speaks truth to power no matter the consequences. She is being hailed as one of the most influential Black voices of our generation.

Tamika served as the youngest ever Executive Director of the National Action Network and was instrumental in the creation of the New York City’s Crisis Management System, an official gun violence prevention program that awards nearly $27 million to violence prevention organizations annually. Tamika continues to make history when she helped shepherd the largest single-day demonstration, the 2017 Women’s March on Washington serving as one of its four national co-chairs. Most recently, she co-founded Until Freedom, an intersectional social justice organization that serves as a clearinghouse for organizers, activists, movement attorneys, artists, celebrities, and formerly incarcerated individuals. Tamika also co-hosts the Street Politicians podcast on iHeart Radio’s Black Effect Network.

Tamika’s expertise lies in the areas of civil and human rights issues including extensive work around equal rights for women, economic empowerment, gun violence, criminal justice reform, and police accountability. Tamika has been honored as one of Time’s 100’s Most Influential People in the world as well as featured on Fortune’s 2017 list of the World’s Greatest Leaders.

Tamika has been dubbed the Sojourner Truth of our time. She is a world-renowned sought-after speaker, the author of a highly anticipated book State of Emergency, a movement strategist and a brilliant media commentator and organizer that mixes street smarts with policy to engage the most marginalized communities.

---

Coordinated by 2021 Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration and Black History Month Collaborative, which includes representatives of and/or co-sponsorship by the African Student Union (ASU), Academic Affairs, Alumni Association, Black Employee Resource Group (BERG), Center for Academic Excellence, Center for Civic Engagement, Center for Creative and Performing Arts, Charlotte Forten Group, Counseling and Health Services, Disability Services, First Year Experience, HESA Program, Inclusive Excellence Office, Institutional Advancement, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, LEAD (Leadership, Engagement, Advocacy and Diversity) Office, Media Services, Multicultural Student Association (MSA), President's Office, Residence Life, Salem’s No Place for Hate Committee, School of Social Work, Urban Arts Theatre (UAT).