Lehigh Dining honors Black History Month

In collaboration with Lehigh University's (LU) Office of Multicultural Affairs, Lehigh Dining by Sodexo hosted a Black History Month Celebration Dinner at Rathbone Student Restaurant on Thursday, February 25.

The socially distanced, take-out only event, honored Lehigh University alumni through a menu inspired by Marcus Samuelsson, Maya Angelou, Barack Obama and others.

Reginald Jennings '70, one of the first African Americans to play football at LU, was in attendance and spent the evening engaging with students.

A gifted communicator with a fierce independent and entrepreneurial spirit, Jennings holds a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies from Lehigh University and a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School, ’73.

Jennings leadership role as Co-Executive Chair of the Black and Latino Network for Community and Equity (BALANCE) at his beloved undergraduate university proved to be the platform that synthesized elements of his legal and business experience.

Leading up to the Black History Month Celebration Dinner, students were asked to tell "What Black History means to them". Responses were shared on digital screens throughout Rathbone.

One student wrote, “To me, it means honoring those who came before us, and those among us, who have overcome so much, to contribute to their culture and our collective society in a meaningful, impactful and progressive way.”

The event was organized and coordinated by Rathbone Director Sleeger, Lauren and Executive Chef Hynes, John.

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