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Student & Campus Life

Looking back at February's Black History Month dinners around campus

Thanks for joining us for Cornell Dining’s annual Black History Month dinners this February, celebrating the depth and diversity of cuisines across Africa and the African Diaspora. The month‑long series is shaped in close collaboration with Black Students United (BSU), whose student leaders help Cornell Dining’s teams refine menus and capture the cultural details that bring each regional theme to life. 

A row of Black students standing in front of the North End Pasta station at Morrison Dining

This partnership builds on Cornell Dining’s long-standing tradition of honoring Black History Month through food, a series that this year featured dishes from across Africa, the Caribbean, and the Americas.

At Okenshields, we featured signature Creole foods like a Po' Boys bar, Gumbo, Bananas Foster, and Hurricane mocktails.

A staff member serves food to a student holding a plate
A closeup of a hand with tongs serving food onto a plate

At Becker House Dining Room, guests enjoyed Ethiopian cuisine, with Chicken Doro Wat, Tempeh Misir Wat, and housemade Injera Bread.

Two students sit at a table smiling, with plates of food
Students on either side of a dining room table with plates of food, one giving a thumbs up

Morrison Dining on North Campus featured Jamaican food, with dishes such as Escovietch Fish, Curry Goat, Jerk Pork, Oxtails, Rice & Peas, Steam Cabbage and vegetarian Ital Stew.

A staff member serves food with a line of students on the other side of the counter
Serving trays of food, with a hand serving food onto a plate
Two Black people smile while one is holding a plate of food

At Cook House Dining Room, West African dishes included Roasted Sweet Potato Soup from Ghana, Rice Jollof, and West African Beef Stew.

A student with a plate of food in front of a serving line

We wrapped up at the end of February with a Southern Soul Food themed dinner at North Star Dining Room, with treats like Fried Chicken, Baked Mac & Cheese, Collard Greens with Ham Hocks, and Sweet Potato Pie!

Students smiling holding plates of food
A hand holding a plate with fried chicken, greens, and mac and cheese

Thanks to everyone who joined us for one or more of last month's Black History Month Dinners! We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming special culinary events.

About Cornell Dining

Cornell Dining is consistently ranked in the Princeton Review's top ten for best campus food among all colleges and universities in the country! That high rating comes from customer surveys, and reflects Cornell Dining's commitment to serving high-quality foods that are healthy and creatively prepared with genuine care for a diverse community. Cornell Dining operates over 30 on-campus eateries -- which include residential dining rooms, cafés, coffeehouses, food courts, and convenience stores -- and serves more than 23,000 meals a day to members of the Cornell community. For more information, visit dining.cornell.edu.