Culture
22 Ways to Educate and Empower Yourself During Black History Month—And Beyond
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
Just as the timeless African proverb suggests, the advancement of causes within our Black communities has always been the result of unified efforts. That’s why “Together, We Move”—this year’s theme for 2U’s Black Engagement Network (BNet)—is the perfect sentiment for marking the start of Black History Month.
From the fight for civil rights to equity in education, the impact of our work is always greater when we're working together. Throughout February, as BNet honors facets of the Black experience with our colleagues across the company, we’re also eager to shine a spotlight on related educational offerings that bring this spirit of togetherness—and the conviction that knowledge is power—into full focus.
The following 22 educational programs we offer in partnership with universities around the world represent just some of the ways we can continue to learn from one another, build a more inclusive world, and elevate our communities to even greater heights.
HBCU Online Degree Programs in Business and Social Work
Morehouse College and Howard University, two of America’s most distinguished Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), each offer a unique online degree program designed to cultivate strong Black leaders in critical fields.
- A Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Morehouse College, the nation’s only educational institution dedicated to empowering and developing Black men, offers an accessible and flexible way to complete your undergraduate degree.
- A Master of Social Work from Howard University’s School of Social Work, a leading force in the struggle for social justice, leads you through a curriculum grounded in the Black perspective, to help enable you to better serve Black and marginalized populations.
Executive Education Topics in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
DEI continues to be a rapidly growing focus area in education and the workplace. Dr. Alvin B. Tillery, Jr., a thought leader in racial politics and presidential leadership, has created two DEI-driven executive education courses offered through Northwestern University’s Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences.
- Leading Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion helps you develop your cultural competencies to form a holistic understanding of what DEI means for modern business.
- Leading Racial Equity and Inclusion in Organizations takes you through unpacking the root causes of U.S. racial inequalities and structural realities, providing you with valuable tools along the way for creating a more inclusive workforce.
Additionally, each of the following courses teaches you how to affect meaningful change in your organization through a DEI lens.
- Leading Workplace Diversity from Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business takes you through developing an action plan to attract and retain diverse talent.
- Leading Diversity and Inclusion at Work from the University of Cape Town helps you learn how to create an in-depth DEI plan specific to your organization.
Courses in History, Civics, Activism, and More
Taught by leading scholars and experts from some of the world’s top educational institutions, these self-paced courses related to Black History Month are available to start anytime.
For a range of historical perspectives:
- American Prophet: The Inner Life and Global Vision of Martin Luther King, Jr. from Stanford University investigates MLK’s life through documents that have survived from the past.
- A three-course series on the Civil War and Reconstruction—1850-1861: A House Divided, 1861-1865: A New Birth of Freedom, and 1865-1890: The Unfinished Revolution—from Columbia University traces how the effects of slavery came to dominate the framework for American society and politics.
- Negotiating a Changing World: 1920-1950, also from Columbia University, explores issues of gender and race from the 19th Amendment through World War II.
- Smithsonian’s Objects That Define America and Interdisciplinary Teaching with Museum Objects, both from the Smithsonian Institution, take you through its expansive collections. The latter course features artifacts from the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
For topics in activism and community engagement:
- Community Engagement: Collaborating for Change and Storytelling for Social Change, both from the University of Michigan, give everyone—whether you’re a novice or experienced practitioner—more effective community-building strategies.
- Writing for Social Justice from the University of California, Berkeley teaches budding wordsmiths how to harness the power of storytelling for personal, social, and political change.
For courses in civics, justice, and international policy:
- Civil Liberties from Princeton University surveys notable civil rights thinkers and groundbreaking Supreme Court opinions.
- Justice and We the People: Civic Engagement in a Constitutional Democracy, both from Harvard University, dig into moral and political philosophy in America.
- Unconscious Bias: From Awareness to Action and Facing Racism and Emotional Tax in the Workplace, both from Catalyst, a leading nonprofit focused on accelerating progress for women in the workplace, probe various hot-button issues in professional environments.
- Industrial Policy in the 21st Century: The Challenge for Africa from SDG Academy, a creator and curator of global sustainable development courses, examines Africa’s options for industrialization and future economic growth.
Even More Ways to Celebrate Black History Month
With so many learning opportunities connected to the BNet mission, Black History Month is a special and exciting time at 2U. We love sharing all of these educational resources—just as much as we love spotlighting the people who help bring these programs and courses to life every day. Want to get to know a few BNet members close-up? Check out our group interview with four HBCU alumni who work at 2U, as well as our 2022 Black History Month interviews with a senior student success manager who supports the Netflix Pathways Bootcamp, a program director who helps lead 2U's Morehouse partnership, and an implementation manager who works on Morehouse and Howard University programs.