University Of Minnesota
The Black Students Union
The Black History Month Posters
(1986-1996)

The symbol we are now calling "The Official Black History Month Logo" was created in 1986 by Farouk Seti Olajuwon. The logo first appeared on Farouk's 1987 Black History Month posters. This symbol that has evolved into The Official Black History Month Logo came out swinging and knocking down barriers and bringing people together. The logo established itself almost overnight, and over the years, people and the extensive list of supporters made it what it is today. People framed the posters like any other fine piece of art. Each year the University of Minnesota student center would have a waiting list full of people wanting to receive the posters.

The logo combined with the Great African Thinkers created a win-win presentation for all who attended the University's Black History Month activities. (Click on Keynote Speakers to see the long list of legendary Black historians, scholars, poets, musicians, playwrights and activists from every battlefront in America.) These key people added value and meaning to the logo over the years. In size and scope, this period (1986-1996) may very well have been the best ten years of Black History Month programming ever.