University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Set to Celebrate Black History Month
1/31/2022 12:25:00 PM | Athletics, Student-Athlete Development
The University of Minnesota Athletics department will honor Black History Month with a variety of events throughout the month of February.
This year's BHM will feature video and articles from Gopher alums, current student-athletes, coaches and staff as well as a historical look from individuals who became the first Black scholarship athletes in the department.
"We are excited for our upcoming Black History Month programming during the month of February, Athletics Director Mark Coyle said. "This year we would like to include additional information about Black History Month into our digital game programs. Our intent is that this information will help educate our fans and greater community on our efforts to celebrate Black History. If you are able and willing, please feel free to share a quote with us about what Black History Month means to you and how you celebrate culture and diversity."
Minnesota will also play 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' during the month, which was written during a crucial time in American history. At the turn of the 20th century, Johnson's lyrics eloquently captured the solemn yet hopeful appeal for the liberty of Black Americans. Set against the religious invocation of God and the promise of freedom, the song was later adopted by NAACP and prominently used as a rallying cry during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s.
A commemorative poster has also been created that highlights 19 current Gopher student-athletes. This poster also features the colors green, black and red, which shows the cultural significance of the Pan African Flag first designed and used by Marcus Garvey, a founding father of Pan-Africanism and members of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in 1920. The three colors of the flag. Red was chosen to represent the blood, Black, the soils of the Nile valley and green the prosperity of Africa and its people.
Gopher Athletics will also have a written feature from Spokesman Recorder writer Charles Hallman.
For more information, please visit gophersports.com.
Scheduled Events
Black History Month Celebration @ Men's - Feb 12th vs. Penn State
- Black History Month GameDay Insert - with Calendar Image
- Singing of Lift Every Voice and Sing
- Youth Basketball team at halftime
- In-game Student-Athlete Videos
Black History Month Celebration @ Women's - Feb 17th vs. Rutgers
- Black History Month GameDay Insert - with Calendar Image
- Singing of Lift Every Voice and Sing
- Youth Basketball team at halftime
- Student-Athlete Videos
- Shooting Shirts
Black History Month Highlights
- Collection of staff, student-athletes and historical moments (1 staff, 4 SA, 2 Historical, 5 Letterwinners)
- Website, social media and Huntington Bank Scoreboard
Black History Month Photo Gallery
- 9 Black History Moments in Bierman Building - Bobby Marshall
Lou Hudson, Don Yates and Archie Clark, Kathie Eiland Madison, Drucilla Taylor, Yvonne McDonald, 1950's Black Players, Corinne Bolder, Walter Bowser, Dana Ballard, LaRue Fields and Kaitlyn Long
This year's BHM will feature video and articles from Gopher alums, current student-athletes, coaches and staff as well as a historical look from individuals who became the first Black scholarship athletes in the department.
"We are excited for our upcoming Black History Month programming during the month of February, Athletics Director Mark Coyle said. "This year we would like to include additional information about Black History Month into our digital game programs. Our intent is that this information will help educate our fans and greater community on our efforts to celebrate Black History. If you are able and willing, please feel free to share a quote with us about what Black History Month means to you and how you celebrate culture and diversity."
Minnesota will also play 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' during the month, which was written during a crucial time in American history. At the turn of the 20th century, Johnson's lyrics eloquently captured the solemn yet hopeful appeal for the liberty of Black Americans. Set against the religious invocation of God and the promise of freedom, the song was later adopted by NAACP and prominently used as a rallying cry during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s.
A commemorative poster has also been created that highlights 19 current Gopher student-athletes. This poster also features the colors green, black and red, which shows the cultural significance of the Pan African Flag first designed and used by Marcus Garvey, a founding father of Pan-Africanism and members of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in 1920. The three colors of the flag. Red was chosen to represent the blood, Black, the soils of the Nile valley and green the prosperity of Africa and its people.
Gopher Athletics will also have a written feature from Spokesman Recorder writer Charles Hallman.
For more information, please visit gophersports.com.
Scheduled Events
Black History Month Celebration @ Men's - Feb 12th vs. Penn State
- Black History Month GameDay Insert - with Calendar Image
- Singing of Lift Every Voice and Sing
- Youth Basketball team at halftime
- In-game Student-Athlete Videos
Black History Month Celebration @ Women's - Feb 17th vs. Rutgers
- Black History Month GameDay Insert - with Calendar Image
- Singing of Lift Every Voice and Sing
- Youth Basketball team at halftime
- Student-Athlete Videos
- Shooting Shirts
Black History Month Highlights
- Collection of staff, student-athletes and historical moments (1 staff, 4 SA, 2 Historical, 5 Letterwinners)
- Website, social media and Huntington Bank Scoreboard
Black History Month Photo Gallery
- 9 Black History Moments in Bierman Building - Bobby Marshall
Lou Hudson, Don Yates and Archie Clark, Kathie Eiland Madison, Drucilla Taylor, Yvonne McDonald, 1950's Black Players, Corinne Bolder, Walter Bowser, Dana Ballard, LaRue Fields and Kaitlyn Long
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