MISSOULA – The third annual Black Solidarity Summit at the University of Montana will feature Rachel Cargle, an activist, speaker and writer focused on race and womanhood.
Cargle will speak at 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16, in the University Center Ballroom. Her keynote address is free and open to the public.
Cargle has been featured in Harper’s Bazaar, Mashable and even Jada Pinkett Smith’s “Red Table Talk.” She has written articles like “How to Talk to Your Family About Racism on Thanksgiving,” “What it Really Means When You Say ‘All Lives Matter’” and “When White People Are Uncomfortable, Black People Are Silenced.”
Organized by UM’s Black Student Union, Student Involvement Network and African-American Studies Program, the Black Solidarity Summit will run Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 15-16. The event focuses on creating a platform for black students to come together to celebrate black excellence and educate each other about the black experience.
Last year’s summit brought in more than 100 attendees from institutions such as Alma College, Eastern Oregon University, Utah Valley University, Montana State University, Central Washington University and Boise State University.
The event brings together representatives from black student unions, African student associations and black studies programs around the Northwest to address issues of racial discrimination, political disenfranchisement, social organization, black academic enrollment, retention and recruitment at their respective campuses. Space is provided for allies to attend and listen.
Attending the entire Black Solidarity Summit is free for students and $40 for non-students. Registration closes Friday, Feb. 7. For more information and to register, visit umt.edu/solidarity.
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