The African American Cultural Center invites you to celebrate Black History and Futures Month with us – a month-long celebration that centers the Black experience at NC State.

Why “Futures?” We celebrate Black History and Futures Month to honor the rich, dynamic legacy of Black communities while looking towards our future. Emphasizing the word “futures” in our celebration reminds us that Black History is not a static past.  The richness and diversity of Black experiences reflect a vibrant, living and evolving tradition that spans the globe. Just as we practice Sankofa–looking back to draw strength and wisdom from our past to create an abundant present–we also affirm that Black communities will thrive in the future. By imagining and building those futures, we ensure that our stories, innovations, and dreams continue to shape the world for generations to come.

This year, our theme is “We are the architects, we are the future.”   The African American Cultural Center invites you to engage in future-making with us all month long.

Events

Signature Event: 2026 Symposium on Afrofuturism and Diasporic Scholarship

“We are the Architects, We are the Future”

Our keynote, Dr. David Washington, alum of NC State and creator of the groundbreaking graphic novel The Black Defender, embodies this spirit of visionary creation. His work models the power of belief, representation and writing ourselves boldly into the present and future. This year’s Symposium celebrates the idea that we are not simply participants in tomorrow, we design the tomorrow we want to see. Through imagination, scholarship, and agency (see it, think it, and do it), we affirm that we exist in the future, and it will be a future that we shape for ourselves.

This event is made possible with the incredible help and generous support of our campus partners and sponsors:

• NC State University Libraries
• Department of Interdisciplinary Studies housed in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences
• Multicultural Student Affairs
• Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR)
• NC State Black Graduate Student Association
• Military and Veteran Affairs
• Office of Career and Advising 

Other Events

Black History and Futures Month Book Club: Rainbow Reading Group

A Song in a Weary Throat 

The African American Cultural Center, LGBTQ Pride Center, Women’s Center, Multicultural Student Affairs, and NC State Libraries have joined together to host a full semester book club for undergraduate and graduate students to read and discuss the award-winning book, Song In a Weary Throat by Pauli Murray this spring semester 2026.

Each month book club sessions will be hosted by a different student success center. The book club will also visit the Pauli Murray Center together in April.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, NC State will honor requests for reasonable accommodations made by individuals with disabilities. Direct accommodation requests to: Wynter Douglas at wldougla@ncsu.edu.

Join the African American Cultural Center, and Multicultural Student Affairs for two special meetings during Black History and Futures Month

Black History and Futures Month Book List:

Curated by Wynter Douglas (They/Them), African American Cultural Center Library Coordinator and librarian

In honor of Black History and Futures Month, African American Cultural Center Library’s collection of books about future making, the power of the imagination, and African Diasporic history, arts, culture, and society. This book list consists of books for people of all ages to share with one another as we reflect on our theme for the month: “We are the Architects, We are the Future.” 

Each item is hyperlinked to their library catalog entry. You can request these books online or come in person to check out or read these books in the African American Cultural Center Library in Witherspoon Student Center, 2nd floor – through the AACC Gallery.

Check It Out:

Flame Wars: The Discourse of Cyberculture

Afrofuturism: The world of Black Sci-fi and Fantasy Culture

Afrofuturism: a History of Black Futures

Afrocentricity in Afrofuturism: Toward Afrocentric Futurism”

Queer Afrofuturism

Further resources:

There are so many great reads and academic sources on afrofuturism that you have access to at NC State University. To find more, use the library catalog to search “Afrofuturism” and explore the results!

The History of Black History Month

Black History Month is a time when communities across the nation come together to celebrate the achievements of and by Black Americans and recognize the central role of African Americans in U.S. history. Black History Month started as “Negro History Week,” in 1926, conceived by Carter G. Woodson, an influential African American historian, educator, and scholar. In 1976, it became a month-long national observance. February was selected as the official month to include the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.