Hopkins Celebrates Black History Month

The theme for this year’s Black History Month is getting to know the “Black faces you see every day, but don’t know much about,” co-head of BLSU Milan Yorke ’21 says. She continues, “Therefore, all of our events are more in-house. We’re keeping speakers to current students, alumni, and faculty. We plan to have a Kahoot for advisory groups to play around with, a song of the week that showcases Black culture throughout the years, and multiple movie nights.” Yorke explains their objective behind these events: “We really wanted to highlight our Black peers and reinvent the month specifically for them to enjoy.”

A key aspect of this year’s Black History Month is incorporating more speeches from Black people within the Hopkins community, rather than turning to outside speakers. Co-head of BLSU Michael Imevbore ’21 elaborates, “We have four scheduled speakers, with three of them currently on campus and one a semi-recent graduate.” He continues, “We thought it would be more productive for students to learn about the experiences of people close to them today, rather than from a past that might seem unfamiliar to them. There are so many people that we think we know, but we only know on a surface level. Hear[ing] their stories will be eye-opening.” Co-chair of Diversity Board Hannah Szabo ’21 believes that the speeches are “a great way to continue the work of the @blackathopkins_ [Instagram account] of uplifting voices that need to be heard.” Imevbore echoes Szabo: “The personal stories that Black @ Hopkins School posts played a part in us deciding to keep the speakers very personal to Hopkins.”

The @blackathopkins_ Instagram account was created last summer to amplify Black voices within the Hopkins community and provide them with a platform to share their experiences of racism at Hopkins.

BLSU also plans to screen three films, "The Photograph," "Black Panther," and "Just Mercy," that touch on Black history or culture, and feature a predominantly Black cast. Co-head of SURE Jasmine Simmons ’21 explains the significance of film for Black History Month: “Film is a great way to learn about the history and celebrate Black culture. In past years, these were some of my favorite events because they can be entertaining, but also really productive.” Co-chair of Diversity Board Ranease Brown '21 reinforces Simmons’s sentiments, noting the impression last year’s Black History Month films left on her: “I loved the trip that Hopkins planned to see 'Harriet.' There is such beauty in the representation of Black people in movies and when Hopkins made that step, I was overjoyed, to put it lightly.” Brown explains that from that experience she wanted to carry on the tradition of watching “different movies and documentaries each week pertaining to Black culture.”

On February 26, Black History Month will culminate with the Black History Month Student Showcase, a celebration of Black poetry, music, and dance.

With Covid-19 and the hybrid model, replicating the usual showcase was a challenge for BLSU, SURE, and Diversity Board. However, they wanted to preserve this Black History Month custom. Brown details why she wants to keep the showcase: “I have performed in [the showcase] almost every year since eighth grade, and there is nothing like watching people express themselves through art. Whether it is painting, playing an instrument, singing or dancing, there is so much talent in the community.” The showcase will not look the same as it has in previous years, as it will take place virtually. Brown explains, “We will be formatting the event similarly to what we did at the end of the 2019-20 school year for Hopkins Arts Night. We will put all the videos together and release the premiering time for everyone to tune in.” Szabo continues: “A challenge for Black History Month events is to replicate that sense of community that you have in an in-person conversation.”