The empowering words of the Black National Anthem floated through the EMU ballroom Tuesday night, inspiring the close-knit community of more than 100 students, faculty and community members who were gathered there.
At 7 p.m., the Black Student Union held its first “Celebrating Black Achievement Night,” which members hope will become an annual occasion. The event featured recognition by the BSU of six diversity-promoting students and four influential community members, a speech by Oregon Sen. Margret Carter, and numerous other presentations.
Dominique Beaumonté, the director of the BSU, said that the recognized students are active throughout the entire University campus and community.
“These people have been everywhere you can be on campus,” he said.
Beginning with the vocal stylings of Olivia Callier and the UO Gospel Singers, the enthusiastic nature of the event drew audience shouts and standing ovations throughout the night.
When asked why she believed the recognition night was important, junior biology major Bola Majekobaje replied, “A lot of times we don’t get to honor those people who’ve made a big impact on the community, and on me. I’m privileged to be presenting tonight.”
Following the opening musical presentation, Rayna LuVert addressed the importance of black ancestry and her own personal feelings towards her grandparents’ survival of oppression.
The student honorees, mostly seniors, were a large part of the achievement night. They included Daniel Valle, Kim Hutchinson, Glen Banfield, Mike Callier, Jamila Singleton and Tanya Thorsteinsson.
Valle was pleased to have been recognized along with those students he had spent his last four years of school with. “To be honored by our peers is very inspiring to me,” he said. Valle is the ASUO International Student Advocate and a member of the BSU.
Other recognition came from the Black Women of Achievement. Senior Dionna Hancock, senior Humu Kim Jabbie, grad student Khaleelah Hancock and graduate student Taryn Tarver were the recipients of the Black Levelheaded African Queens United for Excellence (B.L.A.Q.U.E.) awards.
An eager crowd watched the recognition of Vivian Barnette, Bahati Ansari, Kevin Fuller and Charmaine Coleman. Each of these respected members of the community has contributed to the advancement of both minority and non-minority students.
Fuller, a Harvard graduate who works for The Oregonian, used the words of Malcolm X in his acceptance speech. He compared black adults like himself to lions and black students to cubs.
“If the cubs are proud of the lion,” he said, “then the lion has done his job.”
The evening ended with a speech from Margret Carter, the first African-American woman elected to Oregon’s House of Representatives. She encouraged every individual in the audience to never give up on his or her goals of becoming educated and changing the community. Carter ended with a triumphant song that urged each person to help “somebody who is going wrong.”
“Do not let anything stand in your way. When hurdles come, they are meant to be moved,” Carter emphasized. “Each of us must take control of our lives.”