Cultural Observances

may is asian-american/pacific islander Heritage Month

Richland Two is proud to celebrate the heritage and culture of our Asian, Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander families. These are very broad designations that cover many peoples.  We recognize that each ethnicity is different and that the heritage and culture of each is unique and worthy of honor and recognition.

The Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC) works to educate the public about AAPIs and celebrate AAPI Heritage Month.

For our recognition, an Asian person has origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.  A Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander person has origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.

The United States first formally recognized Asian, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander contributions with a week-long celebration in 1978. In 1990, the celebration was expanded to a full month.  May was selected because it commemorates the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States.

Each week we celebrate different Asian, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander cultures.

Week 1: Native Hawaiian, Other Pacific Islander, Vietnam 

Week 2: China, Thailand and Malaysia 

Week 3: Japan, Pakistan, Philippine Islands

Week 4: India, Cambodia, Korea

february is black history Month

Richland School District Two's Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion celebrates Black History Month 2024!

Keeping with our theme: "Pathways to Purpose - Inspiring the Future", we recognized individuals from the Richland Two community who have demonstrated unique and significant contributions to Black history and culture.

The honorees were featured at our Annual Black History Month Honoree Program held on Monday, February 26, 2024. 

View the 2024-25 Black History Honoree Calendar

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The Office of Diversity, Equity Inclusion presents "Pathways to Purpose, Inspiring the Future" to Celebrate Black History Month. Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by black Americans and a time for recognizing the central role of African Americans in U.S. history. The event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month (Harvard.edu, 2018). 

Carter G. Woodson
The Origins of Black History Month (Video Clip)

Pathways to Purpose, Inspiring the Future

Each year we will highlight individuals from the Richland Two community with unique and significant contributions to Black history and culture. Individuals will be recognized in the areas of art, education, engineering, music, health, science, technology, and the military. 

"Often when we think of historical figures who have shaped our history and culture we think of global or national leaders.  We are excited to recognize people from our own Richland Two community who have made significant contributions to black history and culture.  We want all of our Richland Two partners (our students, parents, staff and community members) to know about the good work done by our own community members and we especially hope that our students will see something of themselves in the people recognized to reaffirm that they too have what it takes to be premier," Dr. Helen Nelson Grant, Chief Diversity and Multicultural Inclusion Officer.The selected nominees are featured on social media and the district's website from the categories below.

February 1-7: Art and Music
February 8-14: Education
February 15-21: Public Service (Government, Faith-Based, Military and Social Justice)
February 22-28: Health, Science, Technology, and Engineering

september 15-october 15 is national hispanic heritage Month

Richland Two is proud to celebrate the heritage and culture of our Hispanic families, and also recognize the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements for the United States.

june is lgbtq+ or pride Month

Richland Two commemorates the civil rights and equal justice struggles of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer+ (LGBTQ+) community.

Across the country during the month of June, many people take time to reflect on and commemorate the civil rights and equal justice struggles of the LGBTQ+ community.  Often, there are questions about what the acronym stands for and what the words mean. As we continue to strive to be premier with a focus on equity, we are providing this glossary of terms to help establish a common Richland Two language.  LGBTQ+ Glossary.

To help remember the difference between sexual orientation, gender identity, sex and gender expression, you may reference the Teaching Tolerance poster,  KNOW THE DIFFERENCE

LGBTQ+ History

The fight in America for the civil rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning community members began decades ago and continues today.  As early as 1924, the Society for Human Rights was founded as the first gay rights organization in the country.  It disbanded shortly after its founding due to political pressure.  However, in 1950 the Mattachine Society was founded and was America’s first sustained national gay rights organization.

Groups started coming together to bring attention to the discriminatory treatment of members of the gay community.  For example, from 1952 to 1973, the American Psychiatric Association listed homosexuality as a mental illness.  In 1953, President Dwight Eisenhower signed an Executive Order banning homosexuals from working for the federal government and listing them as security risks.

Many LGBTQ people did not feel safe to express their identities openly for fear of job loss; stigma, being convicted of crimes and/or death.  The first state to decriminalize homosexuality was Illinois in 1962.  Slowly groups began to work together to protest discriminatory treatment.  

On June 28, 1969 police raided the Stonewall Inn, a popular gathering place for LGBTQ people.  The employees were arrested for selling liquor without a license.  Outside, spectators who had been passive in the past to actions like this of the police, threw coins and debris at the police starting a riot that lasted off and on for five days.  Although the Stonewall Inn protest and riot was not the start of the LGBTQ civil rights movement, it became a key turning point in the fight for civil rights.

These acts of resistance were the spark to the modern day gay rights movement in America where members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies speak out against injustice towards this community.

November is Native American Heritage Month

At least 29 distinct groups of Native Americans (tribes) have lived within South Carolina. Today, many places in our state carry the names of tribes and attest to the important role Indians played in South Carolina's history.

According to SCIWAY.net, for thousands of years before Europeans arrived in present-day South Carolina, our state was occupied by Indians, also called American Indians or Native Americans.

A few active Native American tribes in South Carolina include the Catawba, Pee Dee, Chicora, Edisto, Santee, Yamasee, and Chicora-Waccamaw tribes. All are still present, as well as many descendants of the Cherokee tribe.

march is women's history Month

Richland Two celebrates the accomplishments of Women during the month of March with the understanding that today’s women are standing on the shoulders of women who paved the way for the many “firsts” we now enjoy.  Women have always played an integral role in the development of families, communities, industries and every other part of our modern society.  While not forgotten in the other months of the year, we take this month to pay special honor to Women and the roles they play in our history.

Richland Two is proud to recognize and salute the many and varied accomplishments of women across our district, community, state, nation and world.