The Black Affairs Association and Multicultural Center put on a Trap N’ Paint in Warf-Pickel Hall on Feb. 11 as part of the month-long celebration of black history.
Patrons grabbed canvases and various shades of paint and drew what Black history meant to them or whatever their heart desired while listening to Trap and R&B music
The Trap N’ Paint event was held last semester, and the organizations decided to bring it back again for Black History Month.
The Black Affairs Association has been hosting events all month long to celebrate Black History Month. They have had discussions on natural hair, shades of black, microaggressions and stereotypes, mental health and sex education. They also hosted a discussion on and testing for HIV and AIDS awareness.
“Black history is more than what we were taught when we were younger,” said Gorreti Onaghinor, a member of the Black Affairs Association. “When you’re younger, they teach you only a part of black history, and we need to understand that black history is American history.”
The colors of the Black Affairs Association are red, green and black, based off of Marcus Garvey’s Pan-African flag. Red stands for the blood that was shed, black for the people and the struggle and green for the land.
These shades and depictions of Africa and raised fist that represents power are commonly used in their artwork.
Onaghinor recalls painting a girl with a big afro at the previous Trap N’ Paint.
“At the end of the day, it’s what you want it to represent,” said Onaghinor. “Whatever picture you want to draw, it represents whatever you want it to be.”
The Black Affairs Association and Multicultural Center believe they will continue the Trap N’ Paint event beyond this year, and they hope future events will gather a more diverse audience.
For more information on upcoming events, follow the Black Affairs Association on Instagram @blackaffairsetsu or @unapolegeticallyblack_etsu.
