AASO and BAM celebrate Black History Month
By Ivory Miller

Since the beginning of the Fall 2003 semester, the African American Student Organization and Black Active Minds have been trying to collaborate in doing events or programs. Instead of doing one event or program, they decided to do a full month's worth and what better month than Black History Month . The two organizations planned programs and events that educated as well as entertained students about the history of African Americans. Such events and programs included:
  • The play “Platanos and Collard Greens,” by David Lamb
  • karaoke old school jam that was held on Feb.2
  • soul food dinner that was held on Feb.19
  • Black History trivia game that was held on Feb.26
  • blacks in the political arena discussion was held on Feb.25

According to AASO president, Marcus Boatwright, he and BAM President Franchelle Hart began planning these events since the end of November. Both organizations planned and organized these events over the winter break in preparation of Black History Month.

“To actually plan and make sure everybody you have as guests come through and stuff like that is the hardest part and to make sure you have a good crowd every night,” explained AASO Vice President Dawn Norman.

Their guests included:

  • Sam Radford from the Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations (ASCAC)
  • AIDS Community Health Institute
  • dancer and percussionist Synyner Hanesworht
  • A performance from the KIPP Sankofa Charter School

Even though black history is officially celebrated one month a year, AASO has been dedicated to celebrating it all year round.

“Our theme and slogan for the year is Imoja ,” explained Norman,” which is one of the seven principles of Kwanza, and that means unity.

“I think basically through the year, we have bridged the gap and broke the barriers amongst organizations and other people. I think that was a big step, just like unifying us together as a black people.”

There was a statement on the fliers that listed the events for the month that said “Continuing the Legacy.” When asked what this meant, Boatwright replied:

“There are a lot of stuff that is messed up now a days, and so we kind of got to redirect our minds back to the way it is supposed to be so we kind of got to continue the legacy a lot and fall back into that track.”

AASO and BAM can be expected to be “Continuing the Legacy” throughout the year. For more information about AASO or BAM you can visit their offices in Cassidy Hall Room133 (AASO) and 140 (BAM). For more information about ASCAC you can visit its web site at www.ascac.org .


African American Student Organization's Executive Board