On Tuesday night, the Black Leadership and Opportunity Center (BLOC) presented San José State with a Black History Month kick-off event in the Student Union Theater.
The event featured a variety of performances and live music during a Century of Black History Commemorations-themed night.
The Black Leadership and Opportunity Center at SJSU offers social support, academic aid and works to empower and build community among the African diaspora of students, according to the BLOC webpage.
Black History Month is an annual celebration to honor and celebrate the achievements made by Black people.
Almost every day this month, the BLOC will host events in honor of Black History Month, from open mic night to the BLOC’s 8 Year Anniversary celebration, according to the BLOC webpage.
MyShaundriss Watkins, the program and event coordinator, began the event with an opening statement about the importance of the commemorations of Black people.
“This event reminds people there is so much talent here and if this is what you got in our first event, could you imagine what we have coming up,” Watkins said. “A lot of our events are in partnership and collaboration with campus partners as well as external partners. For the first one, we wanted to keep it personal, but as we expand throughout the month you see it expand along the way.”
SJSU President Cynthia Teniente-Matson also shared opening remarks for the event and appreciation to the BLOC.
Zachary Spence, a fourth-year nutritional science major with a concentration in dietetics, said he enjoys going to BLOC events to learn more about different cultures
“The event was beautiful. I’ve never seen something like this,” Spence said.
Spence said this was one of many of the events that he has been to at the BLOC.
Leon Beauchman, an SJSU alumnus, led a libation at the start of the event followed by the National Anthem Sung by SJSU students Niajah Hernandez and Fatima Jiron.
Watkins introduced Austin Eberhart, a peer mentor for the BLOC and Amen Abdissa, a second-year business administration and marketing student, to take over as co-MCs for the rest of the event where they announced each presenter who took the stage.
Multiple SJSU BLOC students performed at the event, including Loghann Bellamy, Mya Forte, Kiaya Huff and Maleayah Benjamin.
Performances by students showcased their talents in honor of Black History Month, which featured a mix of singing and poetry.
Eberhart said it was his first time as an MC.
“I think I did well. I was very nervous, but seeing so many happy faces in the audience put a smile on my face,” Eberhart said. “This event is a great start to introduce people to the month and get it started right.”
Cosmic Roots, a Sacramento-based band with two SJSU alumni, Jay Meyers and Alex Donald, performed alongside their other two bandmates, Myles Taylor and Keenan Jackson, to end the night.
Ki’Donyae Bell, a second-year student, said events like this provide a space for other black students.
“Events like this provide and foster for other black students,” Bell said. “It also lets students express themselves in different ways that they weren’t before, while also giving the student the chance to be more confident in the work they can output.”
