To end off the month of February, Black Student Union (BSU) held a Black History Month celebration on the Green from 5-7 on the evening of February 28. The event had performances, a mini book fair, and concession stands selling food.
During the event students read out poetry, student dances, and a fashion show. Unlike most events, the Black History Month celebration was held from 5-7 rather than starting right after school.
“The reason we wanted to have it in the evening was because we wanted parents to be able to come,” Wilson said. “Parents, the middle school and the middle college can’t attend during the regular school day.”
Mayor Carmen Montano attended the event herself. She enjoyed the event, Montano said.
“What I loved about it was the dance,” Montano said. “They call me the singing mayor because I love to sing, and I love to dance.”
The advisors’ role was to provide guidance for the students, BSU co-advisor Herm Wilson said.
“Because we’re adults, we had to get paperwork signed off, so we did a lot of the logistics,” Wilson added. “But the actual program was created by the students.”
The officers started planning for the event at the end of January, BSU president Deyonnah Bighem said.
“We had all the performances practicing at the end of January until yesterday,” Bighem said. “This was very meticulously planned.”
One of the performances hosted was a fashion show, Jones said.
“We had clothing that originated in Nigeria, Mali, Ghana, and different African countries,” Jones added.
BSU also invited students from other schools in the district to participate in the event, Bighem said.
“Just the middle schools like Russell, Rancho,” she added. “And Middle College,” she added.
This event showed the continuation of the BSU, Montano said.
“What I love about this is that it (the BSU club) has been preserved and carried on,” she added.
Overall, Bighem was happy with the participant turnout, Bighem said.
“It could have been three people, it could have been one person,” Bighem said. “As long as there were people, everyone who participated had fun.”