The Black Student Union kicked off Black History Month last Thursday, with opening ceremonies held at the Glass Pavilion, running under the theme, "Color In a Mosaic World: The Design of a People."
"The Black Student Union will provide a month that is educational, inspiring and enjoyable for the Hopkins and Baltimore communities alike. BSU hopes to encourage people to remember that black history is both American and world history, and does not function as a separate story, on a separate shelf, in a separate library," BSU president Christina Chapman said.
Chapman noted that besides highlighting landmarks and events in the past, the BSU hopes that its presentation of Black History Month "will remind students to remember that they are currently writing tomorrow's history."
"Black History Month is about black talent, beauty [and] what it means to overcome. [The month] is there to teach one another and feel the essence of what it means to believe in this nation," BSU vice-president Brenton Pennicooke said in his opening remarks.
Following Pennicooke's introduction, the Johns Hopkins Gospel Choir performed the Black National Anthem. The group also performed after Katrina Bell McDonald introduced the guest speaker, Baltimore City Councilman Keiffer Jackson Mitchell, giving a rendition of "Ezekial Saw The Wheel."
Mitchell began his speech by asking audience members if they knew their own personal histories. He went on to tell of his own ancestors. One such
individual was an African chief who became one of the few black landowners in the original 13 American colonies in the 1730s.
He described the accomplishments of his grandmother and grandfather, both of whom were distinguished in public service. His grandmother graduated at the top of her class from the University of Pennsylvania, and received a degree from the University of Maryland School of Law, eventually becoming the first female black lawyer in Maryland. His grandfather was a lobbyist for the NAACP in Washington, D.C., and played a key role in the development of many of the most important bills passed during the civil rights movement of the late 1960s, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Fair Housing Act of 1968.
"There will be times when people will try to write off your history .... Know who you are," Mitchell concluded.
Mitchell also made mention of this past fall's Sigma Chi incident, which erupted after the fraternity hosted a controversial Halloween party. Mitchell said that had his grandparents been alive today, they would have been standing on North Charles Street protesting alongside the BSU against the fraternity.
Chapman explained that because of the controversy, this year's celebration would be even more relevant to the Hopkins community.
"The events of last semester simply remind us of the attitudes of racism, discrimination, and insensitivity that have been alive and well on campus, and in America, for many years," Chapman commented.
The BSU has planned several events to celebrate the month, including a poetry slam at Nolan's, a screening hosted by Sigma Gamma Rho of the recent film Stomp the Yard, and a fashion show. Events will culminate in an "Evening of the Arts," held on Feb. 28 in Levering's Great Hall.
"For those who feel they have never seen racism in practice, or for those who would simply like to embrace a beautiful people with a vibrant history, Black History Month is a time to come together and learn and contribute perspectives, both old and new," Chapman said.
