Voices in the Intersection: Celebrating Black History Month at UW–Madison

February 18, 2025

By: Mia McCauley, Student Affairs Intern

CJ Wilkerson

This year at UW Madison, we celebrate Black History Month (BHM) through the theme, “Embracing Intersectionality: Celebrating the Rich Tapestry of Black Identity.

Black History Month 2025 is set to honor the “collective and individualized experiences within the Black q based on identities such as ability, gender, sexuality, class, religion and more.”

Throughout the month of February, The Black History Month Planning Committee, alongside the UW–Madison Black Cultural Center (BCC) are hosting a plethora of events that commemorate this message.

From the Valentine’s Day Gala, the Fireside Folktales: Stories from the African Diaspora event, and the Black History 2025 Keynote with Wicked star, Marissa Bode, February is filled with opportunities to connect and honor this dynamic and diverse cultural history.

BHM 2025 graphic designer, CJ Wilkerson, had the mission to create a series of universally recognizable icons for this month of celebration.

“My goal was to have everyone in the community look at my designs and feel they could really connect with what they saw”, said Wilkerson.

CJ created icons for Black History Month

Each icon contains a series of small symbols that all speak to a bigger picture, Wilkerson explains. “Some parts of the graphic may look like just a few lines and dots, but in reality, it’s all part of a greater design that exists,” said Wilkerson. “Though art and design are not part of what I study, I like to express myself creatively. When I can see a vision of something I like in my mind, I want to be able to create it—just like with these designs,” said Wilkerson. “Art doesn’t have to be the same way for everyone; it’s subjective, and that’s why I like it.” Continue to celebrate Black History Month 2025 as we highlight the voices in the intersection, and take time to reflect on the diverse cultural identities that make up our campus community. For more information on Black History Month at UW–Madison or the UW Madison Black Cultural Center, visit their homepage, or head to the center on the first floor of the Red Gym.