Saint Mary's College Student has officially kicked off African American Heritage Month (AAHM) celebrations, according to Tamara Taylor, the assistant director of Student Involvement & Multicultural Services (SIMS).
The month-long celebration is a time to recognize the achievements and contributions of African Americans, both past and present.
"Just like all other cultural activities at Saint Mary's College, I hope to spark people's attention and to put on events that are meaningful," Taylo said. "It is important for Saint Mary's to participate in African American Heritage celebrations to support and learn the story of others."
Taylor said AAHM is about being truly able to understand people of a different race or culture, thus becoming culturally aware and competent of the opportunity to engage in educational opportunities when offered.
"My goal as the assistant director for Multicultural Services is to work with students to plan cultural events that not only require an audience to show up and hear something, but to actively engage and take away a lifelong memory," she said.
The College's AAHM celebrations started on Feb. 1 with an exhibit and recitation of selected poems, but many other events are planned during the month of February, Taylor said. Among the upcoming AAHM events include a soul food dinner to be served by Sodexo in the Noble Family Dining Hall, a mass commemorating black history, a movie night featuring Disney's The Princess and the Frog and Apollo Night Talent Show.
Taylor said the Apollo Night Talent Show, named after the Apollo Theater in Harlem, is the most anticipated event.
"It's our highlighted event," Taylor said. "We want to highlight the importance of the theatre in relation to African American Heritage."
Poets, dancers, vocalists and many other talented individuals will be participating in the event, but students are welcomed to submit an entry form to perform in the Apollo Talent Show.
Taylor said she has high expectations for the celebration of AAHM on Saint Mary's campus.
"I would like to invite the campus to take part in as much of our programming as they can for African American Heritage Month," she said. "It's a great opportunity to learn something new."
