forward As we embark on the Spring 2022 semester, Thompson Hospitality continues our commitment to providing guests with learning experiences that stretch beyond the classroom. This year, our focus has been on creating interactive learning moments where guests can try new flavors, learn about unconventional cuisines and have fun doing so. This February, in addition to celebrating prominent black voices and culture, our focus is to provide guests with a rich and meaningful dining experience. In celebration of Black History Month, Thompson Hospitality will take a trip around the globe to discover different variations of Black cuisine. Inspired by a variety of African countries, our culinary team will explore different culture's cooking styles and flavors to show that even as people of color, we are such a diverse and unique group. Throughout the month, we hope that students feel connected to culture while experiencing some of our most interactive and culturally‑significant events yet. In addition, we hope that this month’s initiatives serve as a reminder of how each of us have a unique story to share and exhibit just how diverse our campus communities are. We’re wishing you a happy spring semester that’s fueled with an ongoing desire to learn more about the rich cultures and history that continue to inspire us each and every day.
Maurice P. Jenoure, Chief Operating Officer
Black History Month 2022: Honoring the Past and Looking Toward the Future African American history began in the 16th century, but many researchers are beginning to believe that enslaved Africans were forcefully taken from their land as early as the 1500s. The African diaspora was a mass move‑ ment of people to all corners of the world, contributing the the presence of African Americans today. Over 46 million enslaved people were brought into the United States, and served as slaves for almost 300 years. It was not until the Emancipation Proc‑ lamation and the passage of the Thir‑ teenth Amendment that they were considered people and not property. In 1915, about half a century after the Thirteen Amendment abolished slav‑ ery, historian Carter G. Woodson and minister Jesse E. Moorland founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. The ASNLH had a mission to research and analyze achievements made by Black Americans.
In 1962, the group would choose the second week of February to become the first national Negro History Week, coinciding with the birthdays of Fred‑ erick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. National Negro History Week captured the attention of schools, churches and communities around the country, and each made sure to host their own cele‑ brations. This nationwide celebration was propelled by the civil rights movement, where the country began to recognize the significance of African Ameri‑ can culture in their daily lives. Negro History Week, for many, had quickly evolved into Black History Month. By 1976, former President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month, telling the nation to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
Dina Zaikouk, Vice President of Operations
Together We Thrived. Together We Move Forward.
+ forward magazine
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