The Black Student Union held a series of events including a spirit week and temporary cafeteria menu change to celebrate Black History Month, which culminated with a student-planned and led assembly Friday, Feb. 21 in the Schottenstein Theater.
At the assembly, the Vocal Ensemble and Prism Band performed the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and students heard from a panel of speakers which included Jonathan Baker, Courtney Baker, Bryan Drewry, Kumi Walker, Lachandra Baker, Ashley
Wise and Ceylon Wise.
The panel responded to questions presented by members of the BSU and discussed the Bexley community, their experiences with discrimination and navigating high school and higher edu-
cation.
Associate Professor of Teaching Practice and Board of Education member Jonathan Baker discussed his experience living in Bexley and getting involved with the community.
“Being the only African Americans on our block, I didn’t want to keep having people look at me like I didn’t belong, so I started saying hi and waving to the police so they would know I live there,” he explained.
Panel member Bryan Drewry explained to students that his position as the Bexley Chamber of Commerce Director requires him to work with students and families and be receptive to the needs of the community.
“Getting to come here today and talk to the students has been the highlight of my day,” he added.
Freshman and member of BSU Michelle Shanks said she assisted in the planning of the assembly and helped to choose members on the panel.
“We wanted it to be people who were professional and who could show people what it means to be Black and proud,” she added.
Sophomore Hope Ingram explained students in BSU gave social studies teacher and BSU adviser Dianne Day input about the assembly, and Day provided information about the speakers to the students, who facilitated the panel during the assembly.
Shanks said BSU helped to plan additional events to celebrate Black History Month.
“We also had our Black History Month lunch where we served soul food that consisted of chicken, mac and cheese and dessert,” she added.
Ingram said some of the students in BSU helped prepare food and put up decorations for the lunch and said it was rewarding to see the event come together.
“It’s something special to see the planning come to life and experience the work put into these types of events,” she added.
Shanks explained as a freshman, being a part of BSU and participating in the planning helped her gain perspective.
She said it is important for events like the Black History Month assembly to be student-run because it makes them more meaningful for students.
“Our peers can see that it is not just adults that are setting up assemblies and events but their own friends and classmates,” she added.
