On Feb. 1, the Black Affairs Association hosted ‘The Meaning and Purpose of Black History’ event in The Cave. Students gathered to learn, mingle and be inspired by those who took the stage.
“Black History Month is an opportunity for us to promote, to acknowledge and celebrate significant accomplishments and achievements in the United States and world history, because future is made by people of African descent and their supporters,” said Kevin Brooks, director of the Mary V. Jordan Multicultural Center in his speech. “Black history is human history.”
The event began with an explanation of the Pan-African flag, a symbol of of unity and liberation. Then, members of Black Affairs moved into a presentation they called, “Who am I.” Students took the stage to speak about prominent figures in Black history and their contributions. The audience was urged to try and guess who the person was before the end of the speech, when they revealed their name. A few of these figures included C. J. Walker, Malcom X and Burna Boy.
Four members of ETSU’s Gospel Choir also took the stage, followed by a saxophone performance of “Take The A-Train,” a staple in the art of Jazz.
“When we come together in spaces like this, it’s important for us to interact with one another, to spend time with one another, to get to know one another, so we can have a better understanding of various cultures that are in the room today,” said Brooks.
In the last half of the event, Brooks gave his speech, encouraging audience members to stand if they are a student. He insisted each and every person stand because all of us, even those not in school, are always learning. Brooks used this as an opportunity to play trivia with volunteers, and further educate on pivotal moments in Black history.
Brooks repeated, “You are, and I am, Black history.”
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