Now in its fifth year, “Black Souls Welcome” continues to carve out space for Black student artists at Columbia, drawing attendees for an evening of art, performance and reflection.
Hosted by the Student Diversity and Inclusion Office, the showcase opened Tuesday, Feb. 10, on the fifth floor of the Student Center, featuring 18 students across the visual and performing arts.
“‘Black Souls Welcome’ is a celebration of blackness in all its capacity – both positive, negative, and everything in between,” said Zaneta Lockwood, co-host of the event and a sophomore creative writing major.
BSW was created by alum Angel Smigielski in 2021 as a place for black creatives to connect and display their work amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Since its inception, the showcase has continued to serve as a platform for students to share their personal experience and creative expressions among the community.
This year’s event featured 11 student visual artists, showcasing photographs, paintings and fashion pieces throughout the event space.
Alex Denise, a senior photography major, wanted to showcase “Black queer joy” at the event through a series of portraits focusing on their drag king cousin.
“I just want to show off what it looks like to be queer and to be Black and to be joyful,” Denise said. “That’s something I want to show in my art because in our community, we don’t get to be seen as being happy.”
Shamaya Banks, a senior fashion design student, presented an “Afrofuturustic-inspired” garment dress along with several paintings for her first showing at Columbia.
“I wanted to make sure that as a senior, I was able to show up and have work that shows what I’ve been doing since I’ve been here,” Banks said. “I’ve learned so much and I’m honored to be able to do that.”
The event also featured seven student performers who sang covers and original songs, in addition to poetry and spoken word.
Michael Hightower, a junior music business major and rapper, has performed at BSW since his first year at Columbia. Over the past three years, Hightower said he has grown more self-assured with both himself and his music.
“It’s the most represented and most welcome that I really feel at any point during the school year,” Hightower said. “A lot of what I do now is centered around having fun, and now I see that working for myself.”
Laila A’na Laws, a first-year film and television student, performed two original poetry pieces — one centered on self-love and another focused on the necessity of unity within the Black community.
“We can’t be against ourselves because we can’t fight power when we’re all messed up and against each other too,” Laws said.
To emphasize this need of unity, Laws had the attendees chant “U.N.I.T.Y.” at the end of her second poem, in reference to the song by Queen Latifah.
Campus leaders echoed similar sentiments about the event’s significance.
“It’s a very wonderful and unique energy that is unique to ‘Black Souls Welcome,’” said Anakaren Pinto, the SDI coordinator of events and education who helped organize the event.
“The support and the joy that is felt at this event is just really wonderful and is something that really stands out year after year,” Pinto said.
Dr. Emmanuel Lalande, the senior vice president of enrollment strategies and student success, said months that are dedicated to celebrating specific cultures or identities provide students with “a sense of belonging.”
“In a climate where those values are being challenged, an event like this just gives you a reminder that this is needed on a college campus,” said Lalande.
Raymia Jones Fowler, the President of Columbia’s Black Student Union and a junior film and television major., said it’s crucial that events like BSW continue to be “sacred” and “important” to the Black community.
“Especially during this time and climate our country is in right now, it’s so important to have joy and have a good time,” Jones Fowler said.
The art exhibition is available for viewing through Feb. 20. on the fifth floor of the Student Center.
Copy edited by Brandon Anaya
