Black Student Union hosts Black History Month kickoff

A Black Lives Matter Flag is currently displayed on the Leatherby Libraries building. The flag was provided by the Black Student Union and will hang all month as part of the Black History Month celebrations. SAM ANDRUS Staff Photographer

Students reflect on the importance of Black History Month and allyship following the Feb. 4 racist and homophobic incident on campus

Current and former members of Chapman’s Black Student Union (BSU) came together Feb. 5 in an evening of song and celebration. The event, intertwined with performances and speeches, was hopeful in its tone: a stark contrast to the racist and homophobic slurs used by former Chapman student Dayton Kingery, in a now viral attack on the black and LGBTQIA+ communities at Chapman Feb. 4.

“Black History Month is the only time we get to highlight black heroes, stories and accomplishments, even though that should be included in all history because black history is American history,” said Summir Wilson, a senior creative writing major. “It’s our only time to be recognized and its just (expletive) sad that it had to start off this way.”

Black History Month is a celebration of the achievements and history of African Americans. To Chapman students, this month’s celebrations mean more after Tuesday’s incident and subsequent arrest.

“We don’t have a space sometimes outside of BSU to express black excellence and who we are. Black History Month is the opportunity for us,” said Sage Okolo, a sophomore film production major. “In light of (Tuesday’s) event I feel like it contextualizes everything more and puts a little more pressure on us black students to represent ourselves and not come off as angry and reactive which I think is b.s. because we are allowed to be angry and reactive; however, with everything that has happened, we can’t do that.”

The kickoff event was attended by students, faculty, alumni and administrators including President Daniele Struppa, Professor Prexy Nesbitt and Justin Riley, Associate Director of Student Community Support and Development. Though it’s unclear how many people attended in total, Argyros Forum Student Union was filled with people seated and standing.

The kickoff included students showcasing their art, performances by Ramya Sinha, Erica Marfo and Freedoms band. Songs ranged from Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit,” Beyonce, and an original song by Freedom’s lead singer, Brooke Harmon.

“I want to congratulate you on the opening of Black History Month and express solidarity and our support on the eve of what happened yesterday,” Struppa said at the opening of the event. “I want you to know the entire university is with you and supports you. My presence here is to be a symbol of our support.”

Riley, a 2011 Chapman alumnus and former BSU president, also spoke at the event.

“We are in a very, very charged political climate right now,” Riley said. “Some people with certain thoughts feel a little more emboldened to speak how they like and sometimes we wag the wave of freedom speech, but there is a clear line between freedom of speech and hate speech.”

Tuesday also brought reflection among black students, especially in terms of allyship.

“Students need to also do the work,” said Ramya Sinha, a sophomore business major and BSU president. “A lot of people want to say they are allies and care, but really when it comes down to it what are they doing? You can speak all day long but if your actions are not matching up with your words what are you doing? Nothing. People need to stand up and speak and actually be allies.”

Sinha sees Black History Month as a learning opportunity for non-black students at Chapman.

“Really learn up and educate yourself white people so that we don’t have to,” Sinha said. “It’s not our job. It’s not the job of the two percent to educate the masses here.”

In the past, there have been a couple of incidents at Chapman surrounding race, including The Birth of a Nation poster protest and having an All Lives Matter flag hung on top of a Black Lives Matter Flag.

Attendees at the Black History Month Kickoff hosted by the Black Student Union react to Justin Riley’s speech. MIA FORTUNATO Photo Editor

“I think a lot of things happen because of ignorance,” Sinha said. “I don’t think people here are hateful there’s just a lot of ignorance.”

Having the poster taken down signified a new point for black students at Chapman, said Arianna Ngnomire, a 2019 Chapman alumna who led the protest and former Student Government Association Vice President.

“Going from starting the protest to it coming down was like finally we won something because it felt like we had been fighting to make our voices heard for a while,” Ngnomire said. “But also more than anything just to see the poster down it was the promise of Dean Price and President Struppa to do better that came out of that and that’s what the poster in my eyes signifies. It’s so much bigger than the poster now.” Ngnomire was a student when the All Lives Matter flag was hung. She was not on campus when it happened, but decided to head over with a sign that said, “But will you say it to my face?”

“It was an incident that I felt I could have a conversation about, an incident like yesterday I may not have had the best conversation,” Ngnomire told The Panther. “But to me, there was a clear learning experience that could take place. At this point in 2020 we’re past being able to excuse someone for saying I hate n****rs. But because I was a part of BSU and we had similar discussions, I felt equipped to then talk to someone.”

After Tuesday’s incident, black students did not feel safe, Sinha said.

“Some didn’t want to go to class or the kickoff event,” Sinha said. “Struppa asked if he could attend the event and if we wanted Public Safety there and I was like yeah and gave him the green light to have some Public Safety there because we want to feel safe in our event and our month.”

At the event, there were two Public Safety Officers stationed for students’ safety. But what happened won’t stop the celebrations BSU has planned for the month of February.

“This isn’t going to stop our shine. This is still our month, we are still going to show up and show people what Black History is about and why it should be celebrated and why it’s important,” Sinha said.

A Black Excellence Talent Showcase will take place Feb. 20 in Memorial Hall.

BSU hopes the support seen at the kickoff continues at other BSU events this month, Sinha said.

“I want everyone to be like ‘let me go step out of my shoes and into this community and see what’s going on and learn for myself and want to educate myself and understand them more,’” Sinha told The Panther.