Stevenson’s Center for Diversity and Inclusion is hosting their “For The Culture” Kickback on Feb. 28. Additional student-led clubs on campus are also celebrating Black History Month in a variety of ways.
Nic Mitchell, a third-year theatre and media performance major, is the president of Stevenson’s BSU.
Mitchell said BSU aims to create community and a safe space for people of color on campus. This February, they are hosting their second annual Say It Loud Talent Showcase.
Named after James Brown’s influential 1968 song, “Say It Loud,” BSU’s Say it Loud Showcase highlights Black creatives at Stevenson University and displays the various talents and skills the student body has to offer.
Students will attend the Say It Loud Talent Showcase and support Black creatives on Feb. 21 in Rockland Banquet Hall at 6 p.m.
“We have a bunch of performers that are very interested in showcasing their talent and creativity. We want to celebrate these people and what they can do,” Mitchell said.
BSU is additionally holding a Black History Month spirit week, from Feb. 16 to Feb. 22.
BSU will also be selling tickets for $8 each for a trip to the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture in Baltimore on Feb. 23. Check BSU’s Instagram for more information.
SUNaturalls held their first event of the semester last week, Feb. 7, a creative event where members wrote affirming messages of love to their natural hair, called “hair-tines.” Their event, “Black Hair Love,” had over 20 members in attendance where they discussed different hair textures, products, and styling strategies, and shared the love for natural hair.
Gabrielle Williams, a fourth-year business administration major and president of SUNaturalls, said that her club aims to create community and provide a space for discussions about natural hair, particularly with a spotlight on curly and coily hair textures.
“American history is Black history,” Williams said. “Our country was built by my ancestors and it’s a history that people try to erase… It’s important that the history stays alive because it is American history.”
Williams will also be speaking at Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Skee Week event, “Pretty Girl Bootcamp” on Feb. 20.
SUNaturalls also has an exciting event planned for March which will include black-owned business vendors, prizes, trivia and raffles. More information about the event will be advertised on SUNaturall’s Instagram.
To close out the month, CDI will be hosting their second annual “For the Culture” Kickback on Feb. 28 from 7-10 p.m.
Black History Month is for everyone to learn and celebrate Black history and Black culture, a culture and history that is often overshadowed, Williams said.
“Other clubs, or even spaces, where people don’t feel like, or just may not know, that Black History Month is something that they can participate in, that you can participate in too,” Williams said.
