Grambling State University’s College of Business students hosted a Black History Program on Thursday, Feb. 24.The students are members of Dr. Berkita S. Bradford’s Event Planning Management class. They are Cherise Daniels, Anthony Hawkins, Michael Jackson, Metria McCall, Enid -Campbell Odums, JustinRogers and Rodney Johnson.
The theme for the program was Celebrating African American Heritage: Past, Present, and Future.
One of the highlights was Victoria Kent’s fifth grade class at Alma J. Brown. They used a skit for their Black history tribute. The skit was a rendition of a play titled A Night in the Wax Museum.
Kent said chose this play because of the unique concept of historical African American figures coming to life to explain their significant contribution to the world to a group of curious students.
Some of the historical people portrayed in the skit were Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., W.E. B. Dubois, George Washington Carver, Mary McCloud Bethune, Madame C. J. Walker, President Barack Obama and Jessie Owens.
Kent said giving students opportunities to participate in Black History programs is vital to the students’ success.
“It’s critical that we expose our students to influential African Americans. Besides, it’s not every day that a student has the chance to portray President Barack Obama or Madame C.J. Walker,” she said.
Another student featured was drummer Brett Washington. Washington, who is nine years old, thrilled the audience with his selection “Wade in the Water.” The audience sang as he played.
After the choir’s selection of “Lord I Can’t Turn Back,” members of Alpha Theta presented Who Am I?
Olivia Samuel, Kiara Motgomery, Sequoia Burdine, Corine Phillip and Raquel Brown featured history-making Alpha Kappa Alpha women.
Dr. Mildred Gallot was the first woman featured. After serving 40 years at GSU in the history department, she served as a board member for the University of Louisiana System. In addition, she wrote a book entitled The History of GSU.
Other historical members featured were Rosa Parks, Coretta Scott King, Dr. Maya Angelou, Dr. Mae Carol Jemison, Jada Pinkett Smith, Loretta Divine and Dame Nita Barrow of Barbados.
Then the Tiger Marching Band performed a popular New Orleans second line song, Rebirth Brass Band’s “Do Watcha Wanna.”
There was also a fashion show hosted by Dr. Ogbonnaya Nwoha. Models included twins Loic and Yanick Anagho, Andrea Dixon, Monica Jones, Dr. Rosemary Mokia and Jduy Fields. The audience chose the best dressed: Yanick and Fields, who received prizes.
Dr. Carl Wright, dean of the College of Business, said the program was wonderful and well done.
“It was excellent program. It gave information about history in an entertaining fashion. Many elements of the community and school participated,” he said.
Jackson, one of the planners, said, “I look forward to planning other programs. It was fun to do.”
He said they involved children because they are the future, and it is good to incorporate them to show there are young children learning about their history and heritage.
Bradford, assistant professor Department of Management and Marketing, I thought it would be a good opportunity for my students to have some hands on experience in planning an actual event.
“I have found in informal conversation is that a lot of students are interested in event planning, so I hope programs like this will help increase the number of students that enroll in the course in the future,” she said. “I was pleased with the student’s performance.