We all know that February is a big month; the Super Bowl on the first of the month, Valentine’s Day on the 14, and Black History awareness spread around in between.
That’s why this year ONU’s Black Student Union, along with the Office of Multicultural Development, is adding some extra creativity to the usual Black History Month festivities, with activities every week this month.
“We’re hoping to achieve…awareness…. Of African American history. The African American experience. The American experience,” said LaShonda Gurley, director of multicultural development.
William Bodden, president of BSU, said they hope to “spice it up this year” with new events.
“BSU has always done Kuumba fest, the fashion show, and the soul food dinner. That’s what’s expected. I wanted to switch it up a little bit this year…to have something new. See if everyone likes it and we can create a new tradition.”
One of these new additions is a poetry slam. Scheduled for Friday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. in the English Chapel, the event hopes to target students who want to express themselves.
“[It’s about people] speaking their minds…speaking their hearts to things that they feel need to be heard,” William said.
William pointed out that, although similar, the Kuumba Fest (Friday, Feb. 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the Dicke Forum) has a more “anything goes” talent show mindset. It encourages acts like singing, rapping, dancing, instrumental play, magic, etc. Last year, ONU’s Improv group and Gospel Ensemble both participated.
LaShonda said that these events are about being able to utilize students’ creativity and self-expression, about sharing the unified experience that we all have.
“Of course [we will be] highlighting the African American experience, but all cultures and backgrounds as well. It’s a unified event—we want to celebrate each other,” she said.
Another new addition is BSU’s Speed Dating event. William admits that it doesn’t have much to do with Black History Month, but is simply an opportunity for students to get together and have a good time during this month associated with love.
However, one of the strongest events for the month will be the screening of the movie “Panther” at 6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 9 in the Dicke Forum. Considering it is a film about the controversial Black Panther party, LaShonda hopes that it will pave the way for discussion on the topics of self-defense, protest, and civil rights; to take a more educated look at the ideology of protests.
She said that groups like the Black Panther party are often associated with the violence, when in fact they promoted good in the community, like starting programs that many institutions across the U.S. still use today.
“This movie will spur a discussion to look at this one protest and how it shaped our nation. How it shaped and changed our laws. And all the good that’s come out of it, and the good social aspect it’s had for all Americans,” she said.
The annual soul food dinner will be the last, concluding event of the month. Open to the entire campus, the Feb. 22 event will have a wide array of comfort foods, like fried chicken and mashed potatoes.
William said that all of these events together promote Black History Month in a good way. He hopes that by having people become aware of, and attend, one event at a time, it will lead to an expansion in attendance and awareness overall.
“[These events] are about celebrating unity. Celebrating who we are as a people. Not just as African Americans, but as Americans…as global citizens. To increase understanding of where we’ve [African Americans] been, where we currently are, and where we hope to go,” LaShonda said.