Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), City University of New York (CUNY), on Feb. 7 kicked off Afrikan Heritage Month under the theme “Transformation, Empowerment and Expression.”
John Cody Lyon, of BMCC’s Office of Public Affairs, told Caribbean Life that students, faculty and staff filled the college’s cafeteria for a “fun-filled and thought-provoking experience” that included live music, drumming, and dance performances.
He said jerk chicken, fried plantains, rice and peas, and other Caribbean dishes were on the menu at the cultural celebration.
Lyon said performers – including the Trinidadian dance group, Zante Sesame Flyers Dancers, the Channel View School for Research Marching Band, the Learning Tree Cultural School Hip Hop Dancers, and the BMCC Drummers – “brought the crowd to their feet.”
He said the ceremony also featured Afrikan Heritage month planning committee member and BMCC counselor, Dr. Tabethah Mack-Ouattara, who performed her original Hip Hop song “Afrikan Sauce: I Got You”.
Craig Wesley, senior manager, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion of the Simons Foundation served as the keynote speaker.
Lyon said he shared details of his life journey from his birth in Gary, Indiana to his job at one of the world’s largest science foundations. The Simons Foundation recently gifted CUNY $75M, the largest donation in CUNY’s history, Lyon said.
In his speech, Wesley discussed the importance of diversity within the STEM fields.
“Strengthening science through diversity will produce better science, and it will lead to more innovative transformative discoveries,” he said. “With more diversity in science, we may finally answer the question of what happened in the instant after the Big Bang, the origin of our universe.
“These types of cultural celebrations, such as this one today, are so important,” he added. “Culture liberates and reinforces values and ethics, culture connects and communicates, it sustains and encourages knowledge itself. We can’t survive without culture and we can’t survive without community.
“That’s why it’s so important to celebrate and teach about Afrikan heritage and our contributions to the advancement of society,” Wesley continued.
Rémysell Salas, a lecturer at the BMCC Department of Ethnic and Race Studies, said: “During Afrikan Heritage Month, we celebrate the rich history and vibrant culture of Afrikan and Afrikan descendant people.
“From the savory flavors of Injera to the comforting taste of Mangu, from the rhythmic beats of Adowa to the passionate movements of Salsa, and from the soulful melodies of Afro beats to the infectious energy of Dembow, this month serves as a testament to the interconnectedness and resilience of Afrikan culture across the globe,” Salas added.
Dr. Anthony E. Munroe, BMCC president, discussed the history of Afrikan Heritage Month stating, “As we commemorate Afrikan Heritage Month, know that we are not only commemorating Black History or American History, we are commemorating world history, as the contributions and impact of Afrikan Americans are vast and extend far beyond any one continent or country.
“By collectively and consciously celebrating Afrikan Heritage Month, we are united as we stand on the shoulders of giants paying homage to individuals who paved the way for us to be here at this institution of higher learning, rewriting the narrative that is all too often used to negatively define us and diminish our accomplishments,” he added.
Lyon said the ceremony also recognized long-time BMCC Prof. James Blake, who, throughout his decades of service at BMCC, has been “a tireless advocate for students and of celebrating the power of Afrikan Heritage.”
“From the shores of the Caribbean to the expanse of the Americas, and back to the motherland (the great continent of Afrika), we honor and commemorate the enduring legacy and contributions of Afrikan heritage,” Prof. Blake said.
Lyon said additional events during BMCC’s month-long celebration include film screenings and live performances, as well as discussions centered on timely topics, such as Dominican identity; reparations; and a seminar on Hip Hop history, led by writer Walter Greason (“The Graphic History of Hip Hop”) and illustrator Tim Fielder.
