March 4, 2026, 9:01 a.m. ET
Florida State University’s National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) Iota Delta chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and Mu Epsilon chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. (Mu Epsilon) hosted a Black History Month Legacy March on Feb. 28.
A crowd of about 100 people composed of speakers, professors, alumni, and students from FSU and Florida A&M University learned about the Black history that exists on FSU’s campus from members of the community.
“The History Legacy March is more than a campus walk,” computer science major and Alpha Carl Eliazar said to the FSView. “It’s a reminder that the progress we see today was built on sacrifice, courage, and resilience.”
The Integration Statue: A starting point for FSU’s Black History
The Integration Statue, positioned in front of the Student Union, served as the event’s meeting place and first stop. After an introduction from some of the Alphas, Fred and Doby Flowers spoke to the crowd about the experiences at FSU that are immortalized as a part of the statue, as well as the importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
The Integration Statue, sculpted in 2004, honors the first Black FSU graduate, Maxwell Courtney, the first Black FSU athlete, Fred Flowers, and the first Black FSU Homecoming Princess, Doby Flowers.
Fred Flowers spoke about influential historical and legal moments in Black history: slavery, Plessy v. Ferguson, and the Civil Rights Movement. He explained that with the latter eventually came affirmative action and DEI.
Fred Flowers also expressed that the current ills in the political sphere need to be fought with the same spirit as the Civil Rights Movement.
“We are survivors,” Fred Flowers said to the audience. “What’s going on now in America is not a thunderstorm; they are mere raindrops of which we will survive.”
Doby Flowers spoke about being a part of one of the first integrated classes at FSU; at the time, she was one of 35 Black students in the school. She explained that while the Homecoming race was typically about beauty and popularity, she ran in the hopes of breaking down a barrier for future generations.
In their respective reflections, the Flowers siblings emphasized the importance of DEI in the current political climate and the understanding that removing the words would not remove the sentiments behind them.
The NPHC Park: A place where culture unites
The NPHC Park opened in the fall of 2024 with sculptures that commemorate the Divine Nine (D9) fraternities and sororities, also referred to as the Black Greek Letter Organizations. FAMU Alpha and mayoral candidate Daryl Parks spoke about how he came to be a part of Greek life as well as the working relationship he had with the D9s on FSU’s campus.
“The one thing that was more unique is that the Greek organizations here at FSU have always kind of intermingled with each other, which is a great part of the experience,” Parks said to the FSView. “Those groups ended up being the beginning of student leadership on FSU’s campus.”
Political science student Jeremiah Wattkis followed Parks by expressing his gratitude for the NPHC community at FSU, describing how it helped him adjust after moving out of his small, isolated hometown.
Sigma President Larry Harper spoke about the creation of the NPHC Park and the benefits of having a space dedicated to the practice and sharing of culture, as well as being able to network with others.
The Thagard Building: Academic excellence in motion
The Thagard building is the home base for the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE). The program aims to help low-income and first-generation students attain collegiate success.
Program Director of Student Development Sheila Labissiere spoke about not just her experiences working within CARE but also benefiting from it during her time as an undergraduate at FSU.
“I wasn’t afraid to [ask for help from the CARE program] because I knew I wasn’t going to be shamed; someone was going to give me the support I needed,” Labissiere said to the crowd.
The Health and Wellness Center: Recognizing and breaking down stigma
The Health and Wellness Center houses the University Health Services, providing various types of physical, mental, and sexual wellness services. While this building was not directly related to a specific moment in Black history, it served as a moment to mention the stigma around mental health within the Black community.
Special Assistant to the Dean for Strategic Initiatives Gregory J. Harris spoke about his own personal experiences dealing with mental health during his time at FSU. He advised students to power through hardship while also encouraging them to know when a period of depression or anxiety was a sign to seek help.
“I believe that each of you has something deeper inside of you that has not been tapped into,” Harris said to the crowd.
Tanner Hall: Recognizing hard history
Tanner Hall is the headquarters of the FSU Police Department (FSUPD), and the stop was dedicated to the history of activism and justice on campus, as well as the country as a whole. Local criminal defense lawyer Mutaqee Akbar spoke about the history of racial and police violence in Florida.
“The fight is in each and every one of you. It’s no longer asking for a seat at the table. It’s no longer asking to be fair,” Akbar said to the crowd. “It’s not asking, it’s demanding for that freedom and participating in the system in a way that we can demand that freedom. So as we strive for that freedom, as we talk about our history, see yourselves in it, each and every day and continue to fight.”
The event concluded with food, games, and networking at the Black Student Union house. While the BSU House is commonplace for present-day students, in light of the history learned that day, it was a testament to the progress that had been made.
“We have no idea the amount of history we walk past every day just on our phones,” biological sciences major Danielle Layne said to the FSView. “The integration statue is monumental for progress and DEI, and we learned the importance of DEI and history from the people who are literally immortalized in the statue. I highly recommend attending events like this to fully appreciate the history not only of FSU and Tallahassee, but more importantly, the history of the people around you.”
Raquelle Elson is the Arts & Culture Editor for the FSView & Florida Flambeau, the student-run, independent online news service for the FSU community. Email our staff at contact@fsview.com.
