BLACK HISTORY MONTH SPISSUE Welcome to the Beauty in Black Resistance special issue!

Welcome to the News’ special issue celebrating Black History Month! This special issue is meant to be for Black people, from Black people, showcasing the unity of the African diaspora and the beauty in Black resistance. I am incredibly excited to amplify the voices of Black students, faculty and professionals through profiles, personal essays, poetry, podcasts, illustrations and photography.

I hope that this special issue serves as a form of Black resistance, appreciating the intersectionalities that come with being a Black person in America while prompting change in the world around us. A special issue cannot and will not possibly cover the nuances of Blackness, but I wish for it to mobilize change. One special issue is not going to address the diversity crisis at the News, nor will it mend the relationship between the News and Yale’s – as well as New Haven’s — Black community. This special issue, however, is a way in which the underreported and underrepresented Black communities on Yale’s campus and in New Haven can unapologetically celebrate themselves. It also serves as a reminder to the News that no, we are not doing a good enough job at recruiting Black reporters. If we can