The Berkeley Unified School District celebrates Black History Month to commemorate the histories, traditions, and important contributions of Black people to our nation.
In 2020, when Black Lives Matter protests spread across the nation, our School Board passed the Resolution in Support of Black Lives Matter, This resolution is a symbol of the District’s ongoing commitment to focus unerringly on the success of African American students, families, and staff members, and to serve as a visible affirmation of the movement for racial equality in the United States.
February 5, 2026
This year marks a profound and historic milestone. It has been 100 years since the first organized Black history celebration was launched in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. What began as a week of study was a bold act of truth-telling, an insistence that Black history is American history and worthy of study, honor, and protection.
A century later, Black History Month remains both a celebration and a call to action.
Berkeley has long been answering that call in meaningful ways. Our community has been a place where Black history has not only been taught, but made. From early efforts to challenge segregation and exclusion, to student and family activism that helped shape more inclusive schools, to district leadership in advancing ethnic studies and naming racial justice as an educational imperative, Berkeley has played an important role in moving this work forward.
We honor pioneers like Ruth Acty, Berkeley Unified’s first Black teacher, who served this community for 50 years and whose legacy reminds us that representation, excellence, and care change lives. We also honor the generations of Black educators, students, families, and community leaders who continue to push our schools to live closer to our values.
Our Ongoing Commitment
While we celebrate how far we have come, we are clear that the work of equity and justice is unfinished. Berkeley Unified remains committed to advancing racial justice through intentional and sustained action, including:
- Establishing a Reparations Task Force
- Expanding our Ethnic Studies department
- Expanding our African American Studies department
- Upholding and living into our Black Lives Matter Resolution
- Continuing implementation of the African American Student Success Framework, grounded in accountability, coherence, and impact
These commitments reflect our belief that equity must be intentional, resourced, and measured.
As we mark this 100-year milestone, may we honor the legacy we have inherited and commit ourselves to the legacy we are building. Together, let us continue to uplift Black history, Black joy, and Black excellence in Berkeley.
In Community,
Enikia Ford Morthel
Superintendent
Berkeley Unified School District
Community Events
School Yard Rap — African Americans in STEAM Assembly
A special live event that combines the power of hip-hop with the brilliance of Black history and innovation. Join for an unforgettable evening with School Yard Rap (SYR)—a performance designed to educate, empower, and get everyone moving. SYR delivers a high-octane, 60-minute experience that bridges the gap between culture and the classroom. Through live music, lyric videos, and interactive dance breaks.
Event Details
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When: Tuesday, February 24, 2026
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Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
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Where: Malcolm X Elementary, 1731 Prince St, Berkeley
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Who: All TK-12 students, families, and district staff are welcome
Claim Your Seat—Space is Limited
Special BUSD Film Screening
Epicenter: The Struggle for Black Studies in the Bay Area
Join us for a powerful evening of history and community as we host a free screening of the documentary Epicenter.
Produced and directed by Berkeley High alumnus Doug Harris (’78), this film chronicles the courageous strikes and protests at Merritt College, San Francisco State, UC Berkeley, and our very own Berkeley High School that led to the birth of Black Studies programs in the Bay Area.
This special event will also pay tribute to Robert McKnight, the longtime Berkeley High teacher and Black Studies Department Chair who is heavily featured in the film and was instrumental in its creation.
As Black Studies programs face new challenges across the country, come hear the untold stories of the organizers who fought to ensure these vital histories are taught.
- When: Tuesday, February 17, 2026
- Time: 5:30 PM, Screening begins at 6:00 PM
- Where: Old West Campus Auditorium (Oxford Auditorium)
- Registration: Free to the public; registration required via Eventbrite.
Come celebrate the Berkeley roots of a movement that changed American education forever.
African American Success Network – Transition Fairs
The 4th Annual BUSD African American Success Framework Transition Fairs are taking place this spring. The details are below.
High School Transition Fair
- Date: Saturday, April 11
- Time: 9:30–11:30 AM
- Location: Berkeley High School
Middle School Transition Fair
- Date: Saturday, April 18
- Time: 10:00–11:30 AM
- Location: Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School
BUSD Resources
Reading lists
Lifting Up BUSD Black Staff Voices
(2024 – 2025 Initiative)
In celebration of our Black community, this year BUSD has introduced “Lifting Up BUSD Black Staff Voices,” a campaign to share our Black staff narratives with our students and community by creating posters featuring their stories and experiences. These posters will be displayed at schools, work sites, on the BUSD website, and in district publications. Sharing these narratives with our students will allow them to deepen connections with Black staff across the district.
Please click on each name to see a full-sized poster.
