On the night of Feb. 25, Santa Fe University of Art and Design’s Black Student Union presented Journey to Freedom, this year’s black history show.
Painters, Poets and Musicians...
posted by Chantelle Mitchell
On the night of Dec. 3, Santa Fe University of Art and Design’s Black Student Union held its final Painters, Poets and Musicians event of the semester, showcasing the diverse talents of students.
BSU Returns
posted by Chantelle Mitchell
Santa Fe University of Art and Design’s Black Student Union (BSU) makes a strong comeback this semester.
Light in Darkness: Charles Simon...
posted by Charli Renken
Jackalope Magazine interviews Black Student Union founder Charles Simon on his impetus for a recent seminar on white supremacy, as well as Simon’s philosophy of how to bring about change.
Spacemob at the Black History Show...
posted by Rebeca Gonzalez
The Black Student Union put on its Black History Show on Feb. 20 in The Forum to celebrate Black History Month. With help from the NAACP, the organization was able to showcase some of the best performance talent on campus. The goal was to “pay homage to African American/Black culture and the concepts of unity and liberation.” While some acts unveiled themselves for the first time, others acted as an encore from a similar event previous for Martin Luther King Jr....
BSU Ready to Go
posted by Charli Renken
SFUAD’s Black Student Union hit the ground running last year—and it’s ready to expand!
Art of Liberation
posted by Luke Montavon
SFUAD’s Black Student Union on Feb. 20 hosted a powerful show on the Art of Liberation with performances and speeches.
Black History Show Auditions
posted by Serafima Fedorova
Watching SFUAD students audition for the Black History Show, one can’t help but have an immediate reaction. The sounds are diverse and heavy with meaning. Whether it’s singing, rapping or playing an instrument, the individuality of each performance can be heard. “We’re looking for students that can encapsulate our entire history. Go all the way back to the roots; Negro spirituals and bring it back to who we are today. We want to have a wide range of musical talents,” says Ryan Henson, the Black Student Union advisor. In preparation for the actual event, which will take place in the 7-9 p.m. Feb. 20 in the Forum, the Black Student Union committee evaluated a series of performances by SFUAD students who auditioned on Feb. 5. One of the first to audition, Josiah St. Lewis-Noray starts at the very foundations of African music by playing the djembe. This type of African drum is played with the hands and is built from animal skin and wood. From the very first beat, the echo reverberates in the body. The rhythm starts off slow and then builds to a point where it seems like there’s nothing else to do but dance. Then, just as abruptly as he began to play, St. Lewis-Noray stops. The rest of the students hoping to be a part of the Black History Show stop nodding and tapping to the beat and applaud. “Mostly it’s just fun,” St.Lewis-Noray says about the upcoming student show, “but it’s also a way to share information about black culture; something positive.” After his drum solo, the audience is catapulted into more contemporary music through renditions of songs by Etta James and Whitney Houston. Julaine Williams imbued the lyrics to “At Last” by Etta James with her own meaning. “My grandmother just passed away and Etta James is someone she really enjoyed listening to,” Williams says “Besides me, my grandmother is the only other singer in my family, so I wanted to dedicate the song to her.” A pattern emerges in the responses of all the students auditioning. Through the opportunity the Black History show presents, students are able to relate and pay homage to an entire history of the evolution of sound that their culture developed. “I feel like black history month is something that is slowly becoming less important,” Williams says. “We have to understand why as a culture and as a race we’re able to get so far as a community. This history is a part of who I am. I can’t deny the color of my skin or that my talent comes from the people before me. It’s in my blood, it’s in my body.” Brianna Pitts, who sang Whitney Houston’s “The Greatest Love of All,” also talks about how culture and music intertwine. “It’s empowering when black people stand up. You’ve got a lot of expectations. My color is a set off and I want to break through that barrier. People can feel us when we sing and when we do anything because we have so much heart. We are still underrated and underestimated.” Eugene Mason the fourth, also known as G-4, and his African name Toumani, rapped the cover of musician Kendrick Koulmar’s untitled song. “I’m a lyricist so when I hear a conscious influential message through spoken word and rap it inspires me. I hope the audience can see more than just a black guy rapping,” Mason says. “I hope they see somebody who has a vision, someone who has a message. As black people we are more than what the media tells us we are. We can use words to inspire people beyond the status quo.” After the auditions are over, the Black Student Union committee goes over the individual performances and decides who will be performing at the actual event. While evaluating both the sound and stage presence of those who auditioned, Tikia “Fame” Hudson, BSU...
Black Student Union
posted by Andrew Koss
Charles Christopher Simon sits in a comfortable leather chair in the administration building, a grey-billed hat resting on his head above square-rimmed glasses. His voice is as soft and gentle as the dimmed lights of the lobby as he speaks about SFUAD’s recently formed Black Student Union (BSU). The group came together at the end of the fall 2014 semester, just as most students were preparing for finals. “I really put myself out there,” says Simon, the group’s founder and president. “I never thought I’d do that.” The Black Student Union meets every Thursday at 7 p.m. in Benildus room 105, though the location is subject to change. BSU Vice-President Tikia “Fame” Hudson is encouraged by the level of support the group has been receiving from SFUAD staff. “I have more faith in our university as the president of SFUAD has approved this project,” she says of the Black History Show. “And I know that if I need any help, I just have to ask.” The BSU is guided by SFUAD Enrollment Advisors Ryan Henson and Malcom Morgan. The group refers to Henson as their mentor. In addition to faculty support, the BSU has found friends in members of Santa Fe’s local chapter of the NAACP, some of whom will be present at the BSU’s Black History Show on Feb. 20. Hudson spoke of being inspired when the chapter’s president, George Geder, came to speak in her Ethical Responsibilities class. The BSU is gearing up for a busy month. Over the last week, announcements went out to SFUAD students that the BSU is looking for submissions for its “I Have a Dream” art competition. The competition calls for artists to express their knowledge of black history through any visual form: paintings, photography, sculpture, digital...
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