Ventura College celebrated Black History Month with songs, dance and speeches on Feb. 26 in Guthrie Hall.
Ola Washington, professor of African-American history, gave the keynote speech at the event, talking about the election of President Barrack Obama and what it means for the black community, and all the black people in history Obama used to springboard to success.
“The knowledge of African past is going to help people respect African people more,” Washington said. Black History Month is important to students as well. “Its representing ourselves and what we’ve been through and overcome,” said Vernon Gaines, a 20-year-old Ventura College student.
The program opened with a prayer by Rev. Timmons of St. Paul Baptist Church, followed by the National Anthem, sung by Shamy Miller, and the Black National Anthem, sung by Vaneesa Tate.
Jeremiah Stewart read a poem called “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou. Alexandria Hall read a poem called “Why God Made Me Black” by RuNett Nia Ebo.
Most people “don’t know history and how great it is to be black,” Hall said.
Tajjim Verrett-Washington, a 12-year-old student from Fremont Intermediate School, recited a speech he wrote from the perspective of Frederick Douglas for which he won an award from the local chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha. In concluding his speech, Verrett-Washington passionately thanked Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks and Malcolm X for paving the way for black people today.
“It’s time for us to take a look at ourselves as black people and realize what we can do,” he said. “We can make a contribution.”
Event co-organizer Tiffany Revelle-Harris sang “Motherless Child,” Angela Timmons sang “One of These Mornings” and Lola Jenkins sang a medley of African songs.
“I feel black history more when they sing it,” Stewart said.
Gabriel Bostic, a VC football player, performed a West African dance that he said “represents strength, blackness, and freedom.”
“Strength represents the struggle and freedom represents how free we are today,” Bostic said.
The event concluded with several speeches. Rhen Bass spoke about the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, started by 10 black students in 1911.
Dr. Irene Pinkard, the first black woman to be elected to the Oxnard City Council, spoke about the importance of the church in black culture.
“Don’t forget your background, your backbone, young folks,” Pinkard said.
Revelle-Harris and Victoria Lugo organized the event, which was attended by students, community leaders and college staff.