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Jennifer Edwards ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ™21, a forensic science major, always looks forward to Black History Month events and the opportunity to take part in engaging discussions about race, history, and society. ThatÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ™s why she attended a recent talk on campus by Dr. Kamille Gentles-Peart, an interdisciplinary scholar whose work examines gender and culture.

"This event was important because often we overlook the history of Black female bodies," she said. "ItÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ™s great to shed light on the importance of removing the stigma associated with Black bodies."

An associate professor of communication and media studies at , Dr. Gentles-PeartÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ™s research focuses on the perceptions of Black Caribbean women in the United States.

"Black women are not monolithic," she said. "We are shaped by things like ethnicity. Not all celebrations of Black bodies are emancipatory."

"Black History Month is a time to start speaking about the true history of Black Americans and their remarkable contributions."Dayquan Garrett ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ™20 M.A.

Hosted by the University of New HavenÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ™s Myatt Center for Diversity and Inclusion, Dr. Gentles-Peart visited the University as part of the CenterÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ™s annual lecture honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It was also one of the many events planned as part of the UniversityÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ™s celebration of Black History Month.

"ItÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ™s time to recognize Black womenÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ™s pain, but also to talk about how to uplift them," said Dayquan Garrett ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ™20 M.A., a candidate in the UniversityÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ™s community psychology graduate program. "Black History Month is a time to start speaking about the true history of Black Americans and their remarkable contributions."

Students filled the Myatt Center, eager to hear Dr. Gentles-PeartÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ™s message and to facilitate discussion and understanding.

"This talk is important because it helps people to understand what Black women are going through and what itÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ™s like to be a Black woman in America," said Jahniya Morris ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ™21, a music industry major. "This was a great way celebrate Black History Month."