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Heritage Months & Identity Recognition

In celebration of the histories and contributions of historically marginalized identities, the Center for Diversity & Inclusion at American University commemorates heritage months and identity acknowledgements throughout the year. These recognitions are an opportunity for all members of the community to learn more about the traditions, people, scholarship, history and current experiences of those who've overcome oppression to create opportunities for all.  

It is important to note that the celebration of each legacy included in the webpage is not time-limited and this site is a helpful tool to ensure we're inclusive of all members of our community. 

A person's identiy is complex and emcompasses various areas of their life.

Each person has personal identities which encompass personality traits, hobbies, and other things such as movies, books, colors, music, or sports that you like.

Another part of identity is a person’s tied to our birth and other social identities for us. These social identities are race; ethnicity; socio-economic status; gender; sex; sexual orientation; national origin; first language; physical, emotional, and developmental (dis)ability; age; and religious or spiritual affiliation. Some of us think about these identities more often than others.

When we start to think and learn about social justice, it is important to pay attention to all social identities, those that we connect to and those that we know less about. As we do this, we have an opportunity to become more inclusive of all social identities.

We Celebrate All!

As we navigate the 2023-2024 academic year, The Center for Diversity & Inclusion is proud to celebrate the heritage months that make up our students identities and connect to opportutnities to expand knowledge and understanding, gather, and celebrate on campus as well as DC community events. 

February

  • Within February we celebrate and honror the contributions in all forms of our Black and African Diapora humas for Black History Month. The Latern Festival also takes place and in 2024 it is the Year of the Dragon! Lastly, we acknowledge a celebrate the life and impact of Rosa Parks. 

January

  • As with December, January does not have any specific heritages that are highlighted however, it is a month where we celebrate the following:
    • Martin Luther King Jr Birthday
    • The start of the Lunar New Year

December

  • While December is not a month in which specific heritage or identities are celebrated. It is a month we we acknowledge the following:
    • International Day of Personals with Diabilities
    • World Aids Day
    • Humans Rights Day & Human Rights Week 

November

  • Within the month, we celebrate Native American Heritage Month 

    the month is an opportunity to spread awareness of Indigenous history and contemporary Native issues and to highlight Native Americans who enrich our culture. National Native American Heritage Month, as it is officially called, is the culmination of a centuries-long effort to establish recognition for the substantial contributions of Indigenous peoples. 

  • We also celebrate Transgender Awareness Month while highlighting Transgender Day of Rememberence on November 20th.

  • Lastly, we honor our First Generation Students whose national day of recognition is on November 8th. 

October 

  • Within the month we celebrate the history, culture, diversity, and contributions of our Filipino American, German American, Italian American, and Polish American communities. 
  • Additionally, we make space for LGBTQIA+ History Month and National Diability Employment Awareness Month. 
  • Lastly, we honor both National Coming Out Day and Indegenous Peoples Day within the month of October. 

September & October

  • Within the month, we honor and make space for the beginning of Hispanic/Latine/Latinx Heritage Month today, September 15th through October 15th. This time is to celebrate the history, diversity and contributions of Americans with roots in Latin America and Spain.
Join CDI in celebrating all