LBCC celebrated Black History Month at LAC last Thursday, Feb. 6, to honor its Black leaders, students, staff, and ancestors through song, dance, and musical instruments.
The event’s theme was Black Labor: Celebrating strength, resilience, and legacy.
Starting off with the raising of the Pan-African flag, the party began with a memorable moment in LBCC history, only amplified by the fact that LBCC has not gone through with this tradition in a long time.
Jerome Hunt, academic senate president and associate professor of political science, raised the flag, and Carl Kemp, executive director of public affairs and marketing, opened the event with a speech.
The native sounds of Africa filled the event as drums called “Djembe” and the “Dundun” were played by the African drum ensemble, “Dembrebrah.”
M’Baye Kante playing the drum called the Djembe, which originates from West Africa at the Black History Month Kickoff. The kickoff included performances and food for students. (Isabel Murty)
Drummers for “Dembrebrah” included Terence O’Bryant II, Adama Diouf, Saliou M’Bopa, and M’Baye Kante.
The four drummers played with the LBCC crowd behind them, leading them into the T building at LAC where the dining took place.
Performer Terrance O’Bryant II playing the West African instrument called the Dunun. (Isabel Murty)
Two dancers, N’Della Davis’Diassy and Amaya Rayne, put on quite a performance with a Native African dance called “Kukuwa” lining in synchronization with the beat of the drums
A multitude of different cultures sat together to enjoy food with each other, giving a sense of belonging to all those who attended.
Amaye Rayne performing a traditional African dance called” Kukuwa”. The Kukuwa dance originated in Ghana, West Africa. (Tenoa J. Stewart)
After the first performance, Uduak-Joe Ntuk, trustee for area one, gave a speech about Black History and the importance of celebrating success.
“Black Labor strengthens our institutions and communities and we want every student to do well at LBCC. If you go here you can go anywhere, aim high,” Ntuk said before exiting from the podium.
Ntuk is Black history in the making, with him becoming the first African American man to be elected in his position on the board of trustees since LBCC was founded in 1927.
“Before I got on the board we didn’t raise the flag, when I was vice president we didn’t recognize Black History Month. On the board of trustees, it’s a conservative effort to be more inclusive, still that isn’t enough,” Ntuk said.
Nico Titsworth, a Umoja club member, was cheered on tremendously by the crowd as he gave a heartwarming performance at the end of the kickoff that he dedicated to his dog “Shadow,” who had recently passed away.
The crowd was deeply moved as Titsworth performed a self-choreographed dance in Shadow’s memory.
“I’m heavy on my emotions. I feel great and energetic and representing the people , I’m heavy on it. I pay my respects to my ancestors who passed, Martin Luther King Jr., George Floyd, and always be fearless,” Titsworth said.
Arizona State University Local was among one of the groups that came to support the kickoff event.
“We came to support and celebrate Black History Month and to let people know that there are options to continue with school after LBCC without leaving,” said Marleigh Hurlburt, the site manager for ASU Local.
ASU Local is a program that allows students to earn their bachelor’s degree online without having to move to Arizona.
“We had one kid come over a little bit ago to ask what ASU Local is and we got to talking. He said he was going to cry because he wants to stay in Long Beach and at LBCC and didn’t think it was possible to do so,” said Hurlburt.
Another group that came to support the kickoff event was the SAGE membership program, which is dedicated to empowering African American scholars at LBCC.
“We’re making history, the Pan-African flag being put up is something that I don’t think has been done in LBCC history, and us having both a Black president and a Black vice president is a beautiful thing. We’re just here to represent and just show that we’re here for all of our students,” said LBCC student and member of SAGE, Lundan Wingfield.