Artifacts from the Underground Railroad are showcased at Lavery library.

Students celebrate black history month

By: wilfeard, noel

Posted: 2/24/10

On Feb. 18 the Black Student Union and Sustained Dialogue hosted the event, "Underground Railroad to Freedom: Look How Far We've Come in America."
This event started in the Campus Center, where pictures of prominent African Americans, such as Michael Jackson, Martin Luther King Jr., and Coretta Scott King were featured. Pictures and descriptions of historical events such as the Jim Crow Era and Black Wall Street were displayed.
Members of BSU handed participants their "ticket to freedom" then led them to the Lavery Library's lower level for a tasting of African American cuisine.
Featured in the tasting were foods including fried chicken, collard greens, okra, baked ham with biscuits, and corn bread with honey.
"We wanted to give the people a glimpse into our history," said sophomore Latasha Hill. Posters adorned the walls of the library, giving participants a deeper understanding of the rich history in African American culture.
Highlighted in the event was a display case on the main floor of the library that included actual historical artifacts used by Frederick Douglass, such as a silver spoon.
This event was one of many which BSU has planned to help celebrate. Other events include "Word Explosion", which is co-sponsored by Fisher's literary magazine "The Angle." Here, participants will have the opportunity to showcase their singing, poetry or other creative talents. Another coming event is "Portraits in Black", which is a show being put on where people can act out their favorite performers onstage, such as M.C. Hammer and Destiny's Child. Further on in March, BSU will be hosting a game night for Fisher recruits.
Rochester is rich with its history of diversity, with routes from the Underground Railroad coming from the south, directed right to Rochester and other upstate New York areas.
BSU's president, Uwa Oduwa, appreciated the history being celebrated at St. John Fisher College.
"I am not from the Rochester area, but I found it very interesting that Rochester had such an integral role in the Underground Railroad. This event made me want to learn more about Rochester's history."

naw06171@sjfc.edu