Observances and Significant Dates

The Committee on Institutional Equity and Diversity (CIED) is committed to providing equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) related resources on monthly observances and significant dates. Please check back often as our resources are continually updated.

Resources for Monthly Observances and Significant Dates

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January

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

In the Words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. King’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail
15 of Martin Luther King Jr.’s Most Inspiring Motivational Quotes (Rotary Action Group for Peace)

Around CUNY

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has a rich history with CUNY. He historically spoke at two different commencement CUNY celebrations: one at City College in 1963, and one at Queen's College in 1965.

His City College address was given just hours after Medgar Evers had been assassinated on June 12, 1963. Parts of the City College commencement speech were later incorporated into his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, which he delivered in August of that same year on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

After Dr. King won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, he spoke to CUNY graduates again. At the Queens College Commencement in 1965, Dr. King presented the inaugural speech for the John F. Kennedy Lecture Series. During his speech, Dr. King paid tribute to Andrew Goodman, a Queen's College student who was slain by the Ku Klux Klan in Mississippi. The Queen's College Archives generously provided a digital copy of the speech and write-ups from local newspapers:

An audio clip of the speech is available on the Queens College Facebook page.

Memorial Locations for Dr. King

Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park

February

Black History Month

National Organizations Sponsoring Black History Month Events and Programs

Important Black History Month Topics

15 Books to Read for Black History Month and Beyond (The Innocence Project) - See the list below of Black owned and operated bookstores
The 1619 Project (The New York Times) - Now also streaming on Hulu
Before Central Park: The Story of Seneca Village (Central Park Conservatory)
Black History Milestone (History.com)
Black History Month and The Afro-Latinx Connection (Richland Library)
Celebrate Black History Month- Art as a Platform for Social Justice (National Museum of African American History and Culture)
Influential Afro-Latinx Trailblazers (Unidosus.org)
Why Latinos Should Also Celebrate Black History Month (Dominicanosusa.org)

Local Cultural Organizations Featuring Black Artists and Events

Local Black-Owned and Operated Bookstores

Cafe con Libros - Brooklyn, NY
Grandma's Place - New York, NY
The Schomburg Shop - New York, NY

Local Black History Month Events for Kids

Lunar New Year

Legislation designating Lunar New Year as an official school holiday for NYC Public Schools
National Museum of Asian Art
History Channel
- Chinese New Year
- 8 Things You Should Know
What is Chinese New Year?
Where to go to celebrate Lunar New Year 2024 in NYC
- NYC Events
- Bryant Park
National Geographic

March

Women’s History Month

Local New York Women’s History Month Events and Exhibitions

National Organizations with Women’s History Month Information and Programming

Harriet Tubman Day is 3/10

Harriet Tubman Undergraound Railroad - National Park Service
Harriet Tubman Byway
New Archaeological Finds at Thompson Farm (Smithsonian)

World Day of Muslim Culture, Peace, Dialogue, and Film

April

Arab American Heritage Month

Since 2017, April has been celebrated as Arab American Heritage Month to dedicate our collective attention to Arab American cultural and inclusion.

CUNY Community

General Readings and Resources

CUNY Disability Awareness Month

Every April, CUNY celebrates disability diversity and contributes to disability awareness and acceptance by uplifting disabled voices and promoting inclusivity. The University-wide initiative aims to honor disability culture while advancing disability equity and equality.

CUNY Community

General Readings and Resources

Disability Visibility Project by Alice Wong
- Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century by Alice Wong (Editor)
Care Work: Dreaming Disability Justice by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha
The Pretty One by Keah Brown
Virtual Museum of Disability
Disability History Museum
National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled: General Resources of Disabilities
Sins Invalid – Disability Justice Performance Project
The Abolition and Disability Justice Coalition
Rebirth Garments – Queercrip Dress Reform Movement
Disability After Dark Podcast with Andrew Gurza
Power Not Pity Podcast with Bri M.

May

Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month

National

AsianPacificHeritageMonth.gov: a collaborative content provided by the National Archives, National Gallery of Art, Smithsonian, Library of Congress, National Parks, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Asian American Studies: Cornell University’s anti-racism resource list for the AAPI community
Anti-Asian Violence Resources: more anti-racism resources
Mental Health America: information and support for the AAPI community

Around New York City

New York City Parks: tours and activities around the city.
New York Public Library: multi-generational reading lists focusing on Asian American and Pacific Islander experiences
The New York Times: feature story about the tragic effects of anti-Asian American violence
Subway Cinema: (Official site of NYAFF) Asian cinema website
Cultural Institutions: Asia Society and Museum, the Rubin Museum of Art and Japan Society

Around CUNY

CUNY's Asian American/Asian Research Institute (AAARI): has programs, publications, announcement and registration links for lecture series, plus information on awards and scholarships

Podcasts

Self Evident: Asian American stories

Jewish American Heritage Month

National Military Appreciation Month

CUNY

June

Juneteenth

Juneteenth History

Juneteenth: What You Need to Know | History - Marcia Chatelain, Professor of History and African American Studies at Georgetown University. Professor Chatelain, a historian of African American life and culture, talks about the history of Juneteenth and common misconceptions
National Museum of African American History and Culture (Smithsonian)
The White House Proclamation - Recognizing Juneteenth as a national holiday
New-York Historical Society - Juneteenth Legacy of Frederick Douglas (video)
New-York Historical Society - In-person, family-friendly event Living History: Celebrate Juneteenth the origins of the celebration, how it has changed over time, and the many local traditions connected with the holiday (free with museum admission)

Around CUNY

The Importance of Juneteenth in Higher Education - 2021 Recorded discussion between Ted Widmer, professor and historian at Macaulay Honors College, and Dara N. Byrne, associate provost and dean at John Jay College
Bronx Community College - Historic information, links to resources, and videos on why we celebrate Juneteenth and its importance

Around NYC

NYC Parks - Events throughout the city, including a Soul of Food: A Juneteenth Jubilee and guided parks tours with the Urban Park Rangers
NY Public Library Juneteenth Storytimes - Videos of kid's stories being read

Pride Month

Language and communication are more than just using requested pronouns. Although this is important as well, learn the definitions for some common terms relating to the LGBTQIA+ community and guidance on how and where to use them.

LGBTQ Heritage Theme Study - A free online collection of LGBTQ+ studies, written by experts, peer reviewed, and published by the National Park Foundation
It Gets Better Project

Parents

Educators

Additional Resources

Everyday Feminism - Racism, privilege, homophobia, and disability through the lens of modern feminism
American Institute of Bisexuality
Bi-inclusivity
Transwhat - Transgender community and how to be a better ally

July

Disability Pride Month

After decades of grassroots activism, protests, and lobbying by disabled people around the country, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law by President George H. W. Bush on July 26, 1990. Over the next few years, several cities celebrated with annual Disability Independence Day parades at the end of July. July is an opportunity to reflect on this landmark legislative achievement and to contemplate the vital work that remains to be done.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

ADA website maintained by Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice features legal information, design standards, technical assistance materials, and information about enforcement
Virtual exhibits on ADA 30, at the NYC Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission website includes information about the Americans with Disability Act Amendments Act of 2008

History of the Disability Rights Movement

The Museum of disABILITY History features a virtual wing on the history of disability advocacy in the United States and New York State
Disability History NYC profiles the individuals and organizations that made up the disability rights movement in New York City
Disability justice based performance project Sins Invalid offers a range of disability justice resources, including a multimedia curriculum

Disability Pride Month

Disability Unite Festival

Disability Diversity

September

National Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

Join us in celebrating National Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15 to commemorate the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors originated from Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402.

In the month of September several Latin American countries celebrate their Independence Day and Día de la Raza, or Day of the Race, which falls on October 12.

Read about Hispanic Heritage Month

CUNY

Events

Podcasts

October

LGBT History Month

LGBTQ+ History Month is celebrated in October to observe the history of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community. It coincides with the National Coming Out Day, that is observed on October 11.

The observance of LGBTQ+ History Month began in 1994, which was created by Rodney Wilson, a history teacher at a Missouri high school. The commemorative month originally honored gay and lesbian history, but over the years, "additional acronyms were added to increase inclusivity of LGBTQ+ communities." (LGBTQ History Month, IOWA Multicultural & International Student Support & Engagement)

History

Celebrate LGBT History Month

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

About NDEAM

National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) highlights the vital contributions of workers with disabilities and promotes inclusive employment practices and workplace cultures.

Resources

Events

Books

Care Work: Dreaming Disability Justice by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha
No Right to Be Idle: The Invention of Disability, 1840s–1930s, by Sarah F. Rose

November

National Native American Heritage Month

History and Resources

National Archives - comprehensive library on Native American history
National Congress of American Indians - multiple resources, events, news, and policy issues
National Park Service - lists of featured resources, stories, and events
Native Americans in Philanthropy - examines intersectionality of Afro-Indigenous and Black Indigenous peoples
Congressional Research Services - Native American Heritage Month: Fact Sheet
Minority Business Development Agency - details interesting fact about Indigenous people in business

Events

National Park Service - a list of events hosted on the Official Website of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation
Smithsonian - a list of the museum's sponsored events

Maps

Native Land - an app to help map Indigenous territories, treaties, and languages
National Public Radio (NPR) - invites us to learn which Native lands we live on via a map that conveys more than borders

Reflections for Allies

CNN - 5 ways to honor Native Americans during National Native American Heritage Month- including decolonizing your Thanksgiving dinner
Smithsonian - offers a thought-provoking essay on Native Americans' Thanksgiving reflections
Women and the American Story - invite you to meet the proud and powerful writer, Zitkala-Sa

For Kids

PBS Learning Media (PBS13) - a curated look at Indigenous art, history, and culture from multiple resources for teachers and their students
Teen Vogue - gives guidelines for young people on avoiding offensive stereotypes and how to be a better ally to Native nations

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Observances and Significant Dates

Resources for Monthly Observances and Significant Dates

Filter By:

January

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

In the Words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Around CUNY

An audio clip of the speech is available on the Queens College Facebook page.

Recommended Reading

Memorial Locations for Dr. King

February

Black History Month

National Organizations Sponsoring Black History Month Events and Programs

Important Black History Month Topics

Local Cultural Organizations Featuring Black Artists and Events

Local Black-Owned and Operated Bookstores

Local Black History Month Events for Kids

Lunar New Year

March

Women’s History Month

Local New York Women’s History Month Events and Exhibitions

National Organizations with Women’s History Month Information and Programming

World Day of Muslim Culture, Peace, Dialogue, and Film

April

Arab American Heritage Month

CUNY Community

General Readings and Resources

CUNY Disability Awareness Month

CUNY Community

General Readings and Resources

May

Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month

National

Around New York City

Around CUNY

Podcasts

Jewish American Heritage Month

National Military Appreciation Month

CUNY

June

Juneteenth

Juneteenth History

Around CUNY

Around NYC

Pride Month

CUNY Resources

LGBTQ Communities

Mental Health and Wellness

Parents

Educators

Additional Resources

July

Disability Pride Month

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

History of the Disability Rights Movement

Disability Pride Month

Disability Diversity

September

National Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

Read about Hispanic Heritage Month

CUNY

Events

Podcasts

October

LGBT History Month

History

Celebrate LGBT History Month

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

About NDEAM

Resources

Events

Books

November

National Native American Heritage Month

History and Resources

Events

Maps

Reflections for Allies