CVHS BSU celebrates Black history and culture
The CVHS Black Student Union (BSU) hosted its annual Black History Month celebration on Feb. 13, an event dedicated to honoring the achievements and contributions of Black individuals throughout history. The festival featured student performances and discussions with Black community leaders from around the Bay Area.
The event started with an introduction from the BSU president, Naomi Melak, who took the opportunity to explain the significance of Black History Month to the event attendees. She emphasized the resilience of the Black community and the importance of recognizing its ongoing efforts to thrive despite challenges faced both historically and in the present day. “Black history is not just about the past, it’s about our present and our future,” stated Melak. “No matter what obstacles may be in our way, we shall overcome them and have our voices heard.”
After Melak’s remarks, the celebration continued with immersive student performances. Diego DeLaRosa captivated the audience with his moving rendition of Paul Lawrence Dunbar’s poem “Frederick Douglass,” which talks about how liberty should not be an ideological or political rhetoric but an inherent right. Monroe Edwards then took the stage, showcasing his musical talent through a spirited rendition of George Clinton’s “Atomic Dog” dance that engaged the crowd and highlighted the importance of Black cultural expression. The student performances ended with junior Kalia Crane performing her own spoken word poem “The Black Reality” where she talked about the oppressive expectations the Black community has succumbed to and still succumbs to.
The event ended with a thought-provoking roundtable discussion led by BSU Vice President Ebenezer Matheme. Matheme posed insightful questions to a six-person panel of Black community leaders from the Bay Area, sparking deep conversations about the current state of the Black community and how young people can contribute to social change. One of the panelists, Black Program leader Rashad Timmons, encouraged students to take action in their own lives and fight for their own and others’ civil rights.
“Black history is still being written, and each one of you sitting here has a role to play,” said Timmons. “Your voice matters, your actions matter, and your future is in your hands.”
When the three-hour event ended, people left from the school cafeteria moved by the words of the students and panelists. The event proved to be an enriching and inspiring experience for all who attended, reminding the students and staff at CVHS of the significance of celebrating Black history year-round, not just during February.