A Black Honors Night celebration closed out the campus’ Black History Month festivities, acknowledging the achievements and contributions of Black students, faculty and community members on Feb. 26. in the Recital Hall.
The closing ceremony began with a prayer and the audience stood to sing The Black National Anthem in unison and included a dance performance by Black Student Support Specialist Brianna James and Black Student Union member Nasiriyah Thompson.
“We need you more than you realize. We need you for everything that you are and everything that you’re going to be,” said keynote speaker Dr. Michael Marion Jr., chief of compliance of the United States Department of Education, as he continually highlighted the importance of knowing where you’re headed by creating clear goals.
The applause and the cheers honorees received throughout the night are a reflection of who they are, said Cosumnes River College President Dr. Edward Bush.
“We weren’t sure what to expect in terms of our attendance today, but we knew our students were well loved,” said Arielle Funderburg, a student support assistant from the Black Empowerment Center. “We were missing seats, we needed more chairs.”
As many people showed up in support, the hall was full of attendees and left only enough room for standing.
“These students are the ones who make me the most excited to come to work,” said Trinity Wilson, director of TRIO student support services, who organized the event. “When I need one of those ‘pick me ups’ in my day, I go to the Black Empowerment Center to seek them [UMOJA students and honorees] out, so I know who’s going to bring my energy back up to a place where I need it.”
The Black Empowerment Center shares a similar mission with the UMOJA DIOP Scholars program. They are open to all students and are designed to increase the retention and success rate, as well as the graduation and transfer rates of African ancestry students, according to the UMOJA DIOP Scholars website.
“It was emotional, I’m not going to lie. I am somebody, personally, who did not think I was going to graduate high school ever since sophomore year,” said Micaiah Houston, a 19-year-old liberal arts major, who was acknowledged for having a GPA of 3.0 or higher last semester.
Houston said it was difficult mentally, spiritually and physically to get to where he is, but the struggle made his success all the more sweeter.
“It was a blessing to see that there were this many Black people putting in the work because during the whole stereotype of ‘Black people can’t finish college’ that was literally disproved tonight,” he said.
Honoree Talia Carthen, a 46-year-old early childhood education major, said she came back to school after 14 years and she was afraid she wouldn’t pass her classes.
“I didn’t have the example growing up, so I want my kids, my grandkids to see that you can do anything, but also for my community. I want to be able to help my community,” she said.
Carthen said she will be transferring to California State University, Sacramento this fall to pursue a bachelor’s degree in child and adolescent development.
“To get to a place where I can pull them [the community] up and they can pass that on so we are overcoming the struggles, but also helping each other to make a change,” Carthen said.
While Black History Month has ended, there is more information on the school’s website about Black student success events available from the Black Empowerment Center, located in the library.