As February comes to a close, the Collegian reflects on how the UMass community celebrated Black History Month and — most importantly — the ways in which Black life and culture thrive on campus and in the surrounding communities. While we are highlighting our coverage from this past month, working to uplift the voices of the Black community is a continuous effort within and beyond our paper, and extends beyond a single month or special issue.

While reading, listen along to this playlist, compiled by MDC staffers.

From the arts section

W.E.B Du Bois Center and UMass CRJ hold Poetry Slam Invitational

Inaugural Black Artistic Freedom Conference advocates for Black expression

Black History Month playlist

HASA hosts Peach Pageant to unite and celebrate the Black diaspora

Omar Thomas: Sparking musical representation and revolution one composition at a time

A brief history of Jimi Hendrix and Electric Lady Studios

‘American Fiction’ is more than meets the eye

An oral history of Tracy Chapman’s ‘Fast Car’

From the news section

Charmaine Nelson on Black History in the American North and Canada

Amherst town exhibits celebrate Black history in the Pioneer Valley

'One fire, more fire': National Society of Black Engineers builds community and provides opportunities for students

Remembering ‘The Drum,’ a UMass Black literary magazine

Muslim Students Association hosts ‘Black History in Islam’ event

A look at The National Society of Black Women in Medicine

Dr. Demetria Shabazz’s legacy lives on

From the opinion section

Black heart health: What’s being done?

Our racist past needs to be dealt with