Black History Month Speakers

Hopkins hosted three guest speakers in assembly on January 30, February 2, and February 6 to celebrate Black History Month. These speakers were Professor Lindsay Wright, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Chuck D, and actress Renee Elise Goldsberry. Hopkins celebrated Black History Month through a Black Student Union movie night, bells with music to celebrate Black History Month, an assembly speaker series, and more.

Professor Lindsay Wright from Yale University spoke first in the Black History Month speaker series. Wright is ​​”a music historian and ethnographer interested in the interconnection of musical performance, pedagogical practices, and racialized systems of privilege in the United States," per the Yale Department of Music website. In assembly, Wright presented on the history of hip hop and rap, and how it is interconnected with Black history. She played samples of music to show the evolution of hip hop, and provided background on Chuck D.

Chuck D, the second speaker, co-founded Public Enemy, a band that was critical to the evolution of hip hop. Assistant Head of School John Roberts shared the importance of the visit, as Chuck D “continues to bridge art, music, and activism, challenging audiences to think critically about culture, identity, and their role as citizens of the world.” At Hopkins, Chuck D presented on “the value of interacting with others face to face, and not relying on screens,” as English teacher and BSU Faculty Advisor Hughes Fitzgerald hoped the students would take away. Chuck D shared messages like “culture is the thing that brings human beings together.” The audience broke into applause once Chuck D said “give yourselves a round of applause for this energy.” Ella Rinaldi ’26, whose favorite speaker was Chuck D, liked “when he said ‘how are you gonna change if you can't change your mind?’” 

Renée Elise Goldsberry, the third speaker, originated the role of Angelica Schuyler in Hamilton on Broadway. Other Broadway productions include Rent, The Color Purple, and The Lion King. She earned many awards, including a Tony Award and a Grammy Award. In assembly, Goldsberry spoke about her experience with acting, growing up, and her life as a Black woman. She described her “aha moment,” when she realized she loved acting. After assembly, Goldsberry participated in a moderated Q&A. Fitz described the core of her message, which is to not be “dissuaded when someone tells you no and then oftentimes a no will lead you to a yes,” and that “allowing yourself to follow your dreams is actually not taking a risk on yourself.” Goldsberry said that “while all of the things that make us diverse and unique make us interesting, they are also not limiting factors.” Camille Pittard ’29 wrote that her favorite part of the speaker series was “getting to hear Renée Elise Goldsberry.”

The Hopkins Black Student Union played a large role in organizing Goldsberry’s speech at Hopkins. Lucas Downes ’26, a head of the Black Student Union, wrote that Goldsberry is a family friend of his. This enabled him to contact her to come speak for Black History Month.

Downes wrote that after reaching out to Goldsberry, he, his co-heads and the BSU advisor worked to “come up with the assembly format and the B block Q&A format.” Additionally, they “came up with most of the questions for the assembly Q&A and combined those with a couple of student-submitted questions.” 

There were a few challenges when planning Goldsberry’s assembly. Deciding the formats of the assembly, “specifically finding out how to incorporate the student body as much as possible while still maintaining the theme of BHM,” was one of them, said Downes. Coming up with non-repetitive questions “while still focusing on BHM” posed another challenge. Downes explained that it was challenging to incorporate “the rest of BSU without taking away too much opportunity from the rest of the students.” Downes hoped that students “not only take away the great life advice that Chuck D and Renée Goldsberry offered, but also the fact that African Americans are capable of so many amazing things.” Elizabeth Lang ’29 wrote that her “favorite part of the Black History Month speakers was learning about different people's lives.” 

The BSU also had an Art Gallery Reception on February 17, a Cultural Potluck on February 18, a BSU Game/Movie Night on February 20, a Spirit Week beginning on February 23, and a Black Showcase on February 25.