In 2023, the Scout posted an editorial asking Bradley to do more to honor Black History Month.
Nearly halfway through February 2026, we’re still asking.
Bradley, so far, seems satisfied to just pay lip service to progress by gesturing at everything they’ve done in the past. Granted, certain strides have undeniably been made. The placement of the Robert Lawrence statue near Olin Hall was a step in the right direction and a compelling tribute to one of the university’s most important figures.
But progress, by definition, must move forward.
If Bradley was planning celebrations for Black History Month, they should’ve been announced weeks ago. Yet, one of the few scheduled events, a flag-raising ceremony at the Circle of Pride, was postponed after scheduling errors.
Black history is embedded in Bradley’s past, present and future. At a time when the nation as a whole is trying to erase and alter Black history to suit a political agenda, the university has an opportunity to reject the notion that has permeated much of the United States for the past year.
Instead, Bradley looks complicit in the erosion of knowledge and legacy.
There’s still time to remedy this issue, but it’s quickly running out. Bradley needs to follow through on honoring Black History Month and the incredible people who give it meaning.
Otherwise, by neglecting history, Bradley will end up on the wrong side of it.
