To the UMB Community:

February is Black History Month, a time when we celebrate Black legacy and strength, and recognize the outstanding contributions and achievements of Black people. We remember impactful leaders and trailblazers, such as:  

Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray, who was born in Baltimore, served on the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women, co-authored a brief with Ruth Bader Ginsburg for the Reed v. Reed case, and wrote the book, "States’ Laws on Race and Color," which was called the “bible” of the civil rights movement by Thurgood Marshall; the late Rep. Elijah Cummings, JD ’76, former chair of the Committee on Oversight and Reform in Congress and champion of West Baltimore; and Kizzmekia S. Corbett, PhD, a graduate of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and the scientific lead for the Coronavirus Vaccines and Immunopathogenesis Team at the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Vaccine Research Center. 

During Black History Month and every month, we are invited to learn more about and celebrate the fullness of Black experiences — our humanity, achievements, struggles, and triumphs. And we are reminded daily of the struggle we still face with racial injustice, violence, economic and social challenges, and structural oppression. Throughout the pages of history, we see the strength of many who have fought for liberation and justice to fuel our hopes for a more racially just and inclusive society. 

Harriet Tubman once said: "Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world." 

Black History Month again provides us with a time to hope, believe, and work to fulfill our ancestors’ dreams of freedom and equality. This month, we celebrate the legacy of Black people and are reminded to reflect on Black history and commit to continue working toward a more just and anti-racist future. 

In collaboration,  

Diane Forbes Berthoud, PhD, MA
Chief Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Officer and Vice President
Professor, School of Graduate Studies