The Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity at Arkansas State University, with support from the Multicultural Center, is hosting its annual Black History Month informational tabling event Friday.

The event, hosted in the Reng Student Union, commemorates the purpose of the institutions of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) and aims to bring awareness to the legacies of the NPHC and the Divine Nine. 

The NPHC is made up of nine cultural Greek institutions, five fraternities and four sororities, with these organizations being founded mostly in the early 1900s. These coalitions were founded initially on the foundation of inclusivity, and they have grown since their formation to become very diverse, embodying the essence of the Divine Nine legacy. 

Will Glass, a finance graduate student from Jonesboro and president of the A-State Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, said he hopes students are rightfully immersed in the history of the coalitions.

“I would love attendees to take away knowledge of Black letter organizations, predominantly Black organizations, and to learn how beautiful our culture is within these sororities and fraternities, to know why we do the things we do, how we do the things we do, and what we stand for within our organization,” Glass said.

Black History Month is observed throughout February.

Brian Graves, Jr., a junior computer science major from Horn Lake, Mississippi, said continuing to appreciate Black history is important.

“Although it is Black history, a lot of the things that have happened in history still happen today, and we see a lot of these reoccurring events, and these reoccurring instances where black people are forced to either step up, speak out, or be more creative than those of their peers,” Graves said. “We shouldn’t let that die, and we shouldn’t let that go to waste, because it’s happened before and it will happen again, and it’s happening now.”

Event organizers said they hope to establish and address the strength and unity of the Black community at A-State, uplifting and rightfully representing the multicultural community at the institution. 

Latika Johnson, director of the multicultural center, said she hopes students learn more about the contributions made by Black individuals and also look toward the future.

“It’s important to look forward. We have future generations, we have young people doing great things, and we need to know our history, to look forward to what will come in the future,” Johnson said.

The multicultural center director said a college campus is the prime location to tell stories of Black history.

“I think it’s important that we keep these stories alive, keep these traditions alive through all different forms of mediums, whether that be through storytelling, performing the arts of all kinds,” Johnson said.

Tabling will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first floor of the Reng Student Union on Wednesday.

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