Black History Month 2003

Black History Month

At

Lycoming College

            The first year of the existence of Black Student Union at Lycoming College was all about awareness.  For the first year the new organization knew that the first Black History Month had to be something special. 

Plans for Black History Month were made from Thanksgiving through the end of the fall semester. 

             An idea was brought to the executive board about a professor on campus having some past experiences with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  After finding out who the professor was on campus the necessary steps were taken to have Lycoming’s own Dr. Richard Hughes to share about his experiencing with King.

            Chalyn Baker, a junior on campus and Treasurer for Black Student Union said, “The past Martin Luther King Days here at Lycoming College were saying the same thing over and over.  For Dr. Hughes to come out and give his own personal memories left me in tears.”

            Nikeshia Henry Vice president for the Black Student Union said, “Dr. Hughes touched a lot of souls that day.  He was a powerful speaker and it was good for the community to hear him.”

The Black History Committee had planned some events for Black History Month too.  For the first event Lycoming College welcomed Chinuea Hawk, a vocalist, at Jack’s Place. 

Hawk performed a number of songs and even took some request from the audience.  After Hawk finished performing, he sat and conversed with some of the members of Black Student Union and talked about being a vocalist. 

The next scheduled event for Black History Month was Ewabo: Caribbean Steel Drum Band.

LaTrice Smith admissions assistant for the Black Student Union said, “The best event that I went to was the Caribbean dance.  It was a different flavor on campus.”

The following weekend the campus was visited by some Slam poets. Baker said, “Slam poets coming to Lycoming College were a different aspect of poetry.  It was fresh and new.”

The final event scheduled for Black History Month was the movie “The Hurricane” in honor of Black History Month on campus.

George Purcell President of Black Student Union said, “The movie was an excellent movie to show.  It was a movie about an African American that most haven’t seen.  It was an excellent addition to Black History Month.”

Baker said, “This was the best Black History Month that I have seen here.”

Part of the reason why this year may have been the best is the existence of Black Student Union.  Smith said that the Black Student Union has done a lot to get its name out on the college campus and in the community. 

Henry said that the goal was to have something out there to let people know we are here.  “It was well worth it.”

Baker added this year was successful and that the group has set a good starting point.  “We are going forward not backward,” she said.