Coalition of Black Students has big plans for Black History Month

“Black History Month is about black people knowing their history and reflecting on past struggles and achievements,” said the Lawrence Crawford. president of the Coalition of Black Students. “It’s about looking forward to a more promising future in the black community.”

The Coalition of Black Students at Drake is organizing several events to celebrate Black History month, which is honored every February. To celebrate Black History Month, students are invited to attend the Black on Black Banquet, which is a cocktail formal event open to all students. The formal will take place this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Parents Hall. According to CBS, the Black on Black Banquet is a celebratory event showcasing the pivotal role and purpose of black student organizations on college campuses today.

“We want to engage the whole in campus in opportunities to learn about black culture,” said Alexis Davis, the organizer of the event.

Formal attire is required and the banquet will feature DJ Sin. In addition, an up-scale Sodexo meal will be served, including BBQ chicken, catfish nuggets, green beans and a variety of desserts.

Davis said that there are a lot of important things that even black people do not know about their culture. CBS seeks to educate not only its members on black history but also the whole campus.

“Black History month is not only about black history, but should remind all people to study their own cultures,” Davis said.

In addition to music, food and good company, the banquet will feature a keynote speaker. Romonda D. Belcher, Iowa’s first black female judge and alumna of Drake’s Law School, will speak Saturday night about her experience  transferring from an all-black college, Howard University, to Drake.

CBS invites all students to get involved with the organization. CBS meets biweekly on Sundays for general assembly meetings and discussions. CBS executive council meets weekly to discuss issues to be brought up at general assembly meetings. All students are invited to attend general assembly meetings and can attain full CBS membership by attending two events and two meetings.

“The Coalition of Black Students is a unifying organization for students who identify as black or African-American,” said the Coalition of Black Students Vice President Matt Martin. “The programming is meant to educate others about black culture and African and African-American history.”

CBS’s new tagline is “You don’t have to be us to befriend us.” With this declaration, the group hopes to involve more students who are not of black descent and spread the message that Black History Month is a time for all people to consider black history.

To help students celebrate Black History Month, CBS has a schedule of events for the month. Start the celebration by attending the Black on Black Banquet. Following, on Saturday, Feb. 19, Catwalks for a Cause: (R)evolution to Fight with Fashion is taking place in Upper Olmsted at 6:30 p.m. This is a fashion show with proceeds going to Children and Families of Iowa. To finish off the month, attend CBS’s ‘Mama’s Cooking’ at the Black Cultural Center Feb. 20 at 3 p.m.

“We must be mindful of our history every day, but Black History Month is designated nationally to celebrate our history,” Martin said.