BMCC greeted African Heritage and Black History Month in the Main Lobby on Wednesday, Feb. 6, with a day of remembrance and celebration of the culture, and the acknowledgement of the life and legacy of Black American heroes.
The sounds of West African drums and music, led by Abdou Mbacke of Senegal on keyboard and vocals, welcomed students, staff and faculty to the area just outside Richard Harris Terrace. A few students even started dancing.
“I was feeling it … you dance with the way you feel the beat going,” said second-year student Abraham Adedeji, soaked in sweat.
The music stopped for remarks from BMCC President Antonio Pérez, who addressed the crowd of roughly 100 people: “This is a happy occurrence for this college. It represents the diverse rainbow of students that this institution serves.”
On to the Proclamation
Dean of Student Affairs Marva Craig then introduced Deputy New York City Mayor Dennis Walcott, who presented the school with a plaque officially declaring February African Heritage and Black History Month.
“It is a great opportunity to be here to present this proclamation on behalf of Mayor Michael Bloomberg,” Walcott said. “BMCC does an outstanding job of providing quality education.”
Craig said the school’s geographic location enhances the quality of that education, and the opportunities provided to students who choose BMCC.
“We are very lucky to be down the road from City Hall because that allows us to have a great relationship with the administration there,” she said.
The Purpose of a College: Educating Students
Attendees shuffled into Richard Harris Terrace for the last part of the day, a stimulating presentation from Columbia University Professor Daniel Dawson entitled, “Same Boat Different Stops: The African Cultural Heritage of the Americas.”
Dawson talked about all of the culture Africans brought to the Western world, from food and farming to language and social interaction: it being rude to not greet someone is historically African, as is the world tote — as in a tote bag — which originated in the Congo as the word “tota.”
“Africans didn’t bring just their bodies, they brought their minds. Think about all those immigrants at Ellis Island … They didn’t bring museums with them, they brought their minds,” he said. “Africans knew how to till the fields, work the horses, all these agricultural practices. But they also brought their minds and their ways of life and even their religious beliefs … and we live that culture everyday.”
Also included in the day’s activities were: a short appearance by toddlers from the Early Childcare Center, who sang songs of celebration; and the BMCC Select Chorus closing the day with their rendition of the Negro National Anthem.
For the full list of African Heritage and Black History Month events, click here.
