Black History Month: Mercy Celebrates With Food, Song and Dance
Erin Burns
Issue date: 2/29/08 Section: News
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As black history month is in full effect Mercy College is hosting a number of events to honor the historical Africans Americans who've made an impact on our culture and society.
With 20 activities being held throughout the month at Mercy's Dobbs Ferry, Bronx, White Plains, Manhattan and Yorktown campuses. The events are spread throughout all the various campuses to reach out to all Mercy students. The month kicked off with "Taste of Soul Food" which was held at all the campuses on Feb. 4.
"Black History Month events were well attended and the student activity is gaining great momentum. Mercy students have a lot to look forward to this spring, and they need to come out and join us. Next month is Women's History Month and we have a lot of events planned," said Director of Student Activities Stacey Johnson.
The month long celebration included a battle of the beats contest, dance-off competition, hip-hop aerobics class, a series of art exhibits, a gospel concert, an American-American health expo and Black history Jeopardy.
Mercy's Black History Month committee members that include students and staff who organized the events being held.
"The events have been going really well, and a lot of people have been showing up. We've added some really good events for everyone. For example. the Hustlenomics for the men." said Junior and Black History Month member Marisha Craig.
The first ever "Sister to Sister" discussion panel was held on Feb. 11. Johnson and Mercy's Assistant Director of CSTEP, Tykeia Robinson, and the coordinator of STEP, Kia Mack, led the discussion. The session included 13 Mercy students and staff who discusse issues concerning stereotypes, family, dating, child rearing and finances.
"I thought it was really good, and we should do it again," said freshman Jasmine Albert.
The men weren't left out, as they also held a "Brother to Brother" discussion. The theme was the importance of education and the lack of males in the community and household roles. Assistant Campus Manager Oscar Walker and Associate Campus Manager David Collins led the discussion. The men discussed how stereotypes affect individuals and groups, and what is expected in an academic environment.
"The turn out was exceptionally strong and very diverse. The next dialogue will focus on how the presidential outcome will affect males on cultural, social and economic issues," said Walker.
Similar discussions groups will be held in March.
"We've been trying to get this together for a few semesters now, and we finally had it happen," said Collins. "It is a breath of fresh air."
The month of February is significant in Black History, since it was the birth month of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, two men who had huge impacts on black culture. Also, in February of 1890 the 15th Amendment was passed, granting blacks the right to vote. On Feb. 12, 1909 the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded by a group of concerned black and white citizens in New York City. These events were just the beginning for blacks in America, and it's important that they are recognized.
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