At Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Black Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of Black people, and for the University to recommit to challenges ahead, according to SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook.
Pembrook gave remarks Thursday, Feb. 1 at the SIUE Black Heritage Month Opening Ceremony in the Morris University Center’s Goshen Lounge. The SIUE Campus Activities Board (CAB) is sponsoring the 18th annual observation, which has theme of “A Different World.”
“We use Black Heritage instead of Black History Month, because when you speak of history, you are talking about things in the past,” said Marissa Williams, Black Heritage Month chair. “But in addition to history, heritage is something we embrace every day. It is something we can learn from, teach others and pass along to the future.”
SIUE continues to work towards a better future in light of recent diversity developments, said the chancellor. Pembrook enumerated a few new initiatives and projects at SIUE:
- The establishment of the Bias Incident Response Team (BIRT), whose “primary focus is to outline a set of responses that will provide assistance and support for individuals who are the victims of a bias incident.
- Biweekly Dialogues on Diversity, to support critical conversations and understanding around issues of campus climate for black students, faculty and staff, social justice, and the University’s collective responsibility to build a sustainable campus environment
- Sustained Dialogue (SD) conversations, a social action model encouraging dialogue across differences, as a curricular and co-curricular program
- Expansion of the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion to provide more space, more programming options and more visibility
Following the opening ceremony, the episode “Mammy Dearest” of the television series A Different World was shown.
“The episode deals with black art and culture and the stereotypical views and perspectives of black people,” Williams said. “At tonight’s art showcase, we will show that black art comes in many different forms and faces, and we want to celebrate black art in every way.”
“All people should be celebrated,” said Kimberly Pope, graduate assistant for the SIUE Black Heritage Month committee. “However, African Americans are often marginalized and viewed as negative images in the media. All Black people are not illiterate, gang bangers, criminals, lazy or immoral people. We work hard to attain our goals and accomplishments, which is why Black Heritage month is so important.”
Also in the Goshen, the following black student groups were on display to provide information about their organizations: Collegiate 100, National Association of Colored Women's Club, Intervarsity's Black Campus Ministries, My Curlfriends, Black Girls Rock, Black Student Union, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and Emperial Dance.
“I love my black heritage because of its uniqueness, culture and history,” said Kaesha Booth, a junior majoring in sociology.
“I love my heritage, too,” said Moriliat Ibrahim, a senior majoring in biology. “My father is Nigerian and my mother was born in Ghana, and I was raised in America. “It’s good to see African Americans embracing their African culture. I love being black.”
Photo:
Marissa Williams, SIUE Black Heritage Month chair, welcomes SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook to the SIUE Black Heritage Month Opening Ceremony.