Kyora Wallace, Staff Writer |
As Black History Month comes to a close, the identity clubs have had their final events. The Pan-African Student Union (PASU) decided to do a week full of events to celebrate black history and identity.
“Black Love” was the first event to start the week, and it was fitting since it happened the week after Valentine’s Day. The event was co-hosted by Black Engaged Enlightened Feminist (BEEF) and DOE (Delta Omega Epsilon) in Lee Hall. After you walked in and took either a lollipop or chocolate from the display table, you got ready to start speed dating. The seats came with a sheet of paper that had six to eight questions about dating preferences and life in general. Questions like, “what’s the scariest thing that has happened to you?” and “what would your best friend say is your best quality?” and “what’s your ideal date night?” After a minute, you went to the seat next to you and saw a new person. It was a fun event and got everyone talking!
Tuesday was movie day. PASU, with the help of Dr. Howard Ashford, decided to dedicate the day to Black cinema. Starting at 10 a.m. the club began the movie marathon, which included a 30-minute discussion afterward. Some of the movies played included Dreamgirls, Mahogany, Coming to America, and The Color Purple. Black people have made significant contributions to the world of cinema, so to highlight them in this way was a terrific addition to the week’s lineup.
Thursday was the talent show. The show was full of performances from different club members. Some of those performances included the Divine Leaders and Xclusive Dance Crew. There were also some songs performed by Danazia Tucker, Alvin Arthur, and more. Another highlight of the show was the performances from the sorority and fraternity of DOE (Delta Omega Epsilon).
Friday’s event was postponed due to the weather. The A Walk Through Our Roots event would have been the club’s second time hosting it. The event is meant to teach the campus about African Culture and celebrate it with food, music, and live performances. Although it couldn’t be done on Friday (thanks to the snowstorm!), the window has not closed completely. The event will be rescheduled, so keep an eye on Campus Connection for updates.
Community Service Chairman, Leila Fofana, is proud of how the event turned out. She said, “the talent show was a success; a lot of people came to support, so we had a great turnout. Although A Walk Through Our Roots was postponed, I’m looking forward to it.”
As Black History Month comes to an end, we should give the identity groups all the credit they deserve. All the events were as entertaining as they were educational. The best thing about it is that you can tell each club really aims to create a safe space for minorities on campus. Leila went on to say, “One of the reasons I like being part of PASU is because it is a safe space where we can embrace our African roots and learn about the culture. Anyone is welcome!” Although Culture Week is over, the celebration does not have to be. It’s important to remember and celebrate the contributions of African Americans not just for 28 days, but for the entire year.
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