The Louisiana Tech Black Student Union hosted a Black Culture Week, from Jan. 31 to Feb. 4. The week consisted of events informing and involving students about Black culture events. BSU wanted to celebrate Black History Month to show unity within the black population attending Tech.
Alexis Harvey, a Tech political science major from Minden, heads the black culture committee for BSU and played a huge role in the week’s events.
“I feel like the majority of the Black student body needs to be noticed,” said Harvey, a freshman. “This was a way that we could celebrate the tradition of Black History Month.”
The week started with a group of students attending Zion Traveler Baptist Church. After the sermon students took part in a community cleanup. The following day, Feb. 1, BSU hosted a game night, which included icebreakers and Black history trivia.
“Not many of the students intermingle out of their social groups, so this was a night for some of the Black students to get to know each other,” said Harvey.
Students also got a chance to win tickets for the fashion show held on Wednesday during the week. A scheduled “Invisible Man” event was canceled because of a scheduling conflict at the venue.
“We named it the ‘Invisible Man’ because sometimes you feel like no one really notices you at Tech,” said Harvey.
“Cars speed up past you, classmates look at you differently and other students are rude. This event would really touch on how Black students want to be more visible on campus.”
On Wednesday, BSU hosted a fashion show featuring primarily Black models from Louisiana Tech and Grambling State University.
Thursday’s event, “Know Your History,” featured Black organizations at Tech reenacting famous icons and events throughout Black history.
The organizations including DBW, UAAM, Omega Tau Pi, Upsilon Phi Upsilon, NSBE, and the NPHC, portrayed scenes based off Langston Hughes, The Great Debate, Howard P. Grant and more. The 1920’s Harlem Renaissance theme brought a creative perspective to black historical moments.
“Black Student Union seems to make Black students feel more comfortable,” said Harvey. “It creates an atmosphere where we can be accepted. Look at Tech as America and how it’s going to be in the real world. The idea of us versus society teaches you to get in where you fit in.”
The BSU was created during the 1980s, a time when Tech was a lot more segregated than it is currently. Changes overtime decreased the BSU’s activeness. But events like Black Culture Week are beginning to spur and bring life back to Tech’s Black community.
“Our goal is to empower, influence and inform Black students at Tech,” said Harvey.
“We encourage students not to look down on themselves or feel inferior towards others.” The BSU will continue to have more events through Louisiana Tech throughout the semester.