Usually, the annual BHM assembly takes place in a packed Kiggins auditorium but this year the event, like so many, went virtual. “It’s entirely student-led,” said BLSU advisor and history instructor Isabelle Shields of the assembly, which started on Thursday morning. 

The announcement of this year’s theme, “Celebrating Black Joy,” was followed with an original poem by Allie H. ’24 that affirmed, “We as black people are beautiful [...] and amazing.”

 

Afterwards, a short skit titled “The Museum” followed members of BLSU throughout the Dietel Library Gallery as they offered information about various important figures and inventors: 

The skit ended with the reminder: “By the way, it’s all Black invented!”

Several Black student artists presented their work, centered on the empowerment of Black women and using their art to remind everyone that “no matter how hard and messy things get for Black women or girls, we will always be beautiful no matter what.” Visit the BLSU instagram post to read artist statements for these pieces.

 

“What does Black Joy mean to you?” was the opening question in a video filmed in Lyon-Remington featuring Black students sharing their feelings and thoughts.

“I am Black joy,” answered one student. “I am my parents Black joy, my grandparents Black joy.”

Other questions posed in the video were: “What are some of your favorite things about the Black community at Emma?” and “What does being Black in 2021 mean?” The answers ranged from ”coming together to build each other up” to ”amplifying the positive but galvanizing allies to be part of our cause and part of our joy.”

Crystal S. ’23 read an original poem, which was followed by a special goodbye video from Annabell M. ’21, a Co-Head of BLSU who has been involved in the club throughout her four years at Emma Willard School, set to Beyoncé’s “Grown Woman.”

Following the video, the Emma Willard School acapella group 12tones performed “Lean on Me,” in tribute to singer Bill Withers who passed away on March 20, 2020. 

Michaela W. ’21, Co-Head of BLSU, closed the Thursday morning assembly with a reading of Lucille Clifton’s poem “won’t you celebrate with me”:

On Friday morning, the school community joined together for a special Morning Reports, part two of the BHM assembly. For this gathering, Black faculty and students were invited to answer questions live in the moment, “kind of like a Black Rao Rumbles!”

The questions included “What Black figures are you inspired by and why?” (answers included Zendaya, Kamala Harris, and Michelle Obama), “What superstitions did you hear growing up?” (don’t go outside with wet hair—you’ll catch a cold—and a few answers about what it means when there is a sunshower were popular topics), “Which Jordan Peele movie scares you more: Get Out or Us?” (the chat featured much flurry and discussion, though the majority seemed to be in consensus that Us, with it’s terrifying doppelgängers, was scarier). “What is a dish you grew up eating with your family or culture and why is it the best?” continued a conversation that began during the previous day’s assembly (jollof rice, fufu, and guineps were all popular answers up for debate in the chat—as well as with mics turned on).

The videos and art created for the assembly have made their way to the BLSU Instagram, where members will continue to “[uplift] the voices and stories of the Black & Latinx communities.”