Black Student Union held its annual “Paint It Black” event at 1104 S. Wabash in the Conaway Center on Friday, March 21. More than 60 people, including students and visitors, attended. The night kicked off with students introducing their visual work arranged throughout the space. From photography to fashion, every piece reflected a deep connection to Black culture and identity. This year’s live performances featured musicians, poets and dancers.
Senior arts management major Eli Dennard helped coordinate the event and said that the process of finding artists for the event was based on students’ involvement as active members of BSU.
“We’ve seen their work, we heard everything with all their lyrics, and we are so very proud of all our artists,” said Dennard, BSU co-vice president.
Some of the featured artists included sophomore arts management major Lee Svay, junior photography major Alexis Brown and senior photography major Torrence Taylor.
Brown, who is also on the media team for BSU, was deeply inspired by fashion music and Black culture with a focus on creating visuals that reflect these works.
“It’s nice to have people outside of Columbia seeing my work and having people of other ages seeing my work,” Brown said.
One of the performers, first-year music major Aiden Talty-Murphy, advocated for members of BSU, saying that it was important to come out and support each other.
“If I’m not here advocating for all of us and everything we do, it hurts us more than helps us,” he said.
Charee Mosby-Holloway, the director of Student Diversity and Inclusion, was in attendance. She expressed concerns about potential impacts of federal directives on their work but emphasized the need to remain focused on Columbia’s values of diversity, equity and inclusion.
“I think it would be naive not to be worried and not to be concerned,” she said. “People’s lives don’t stop, people’s identities don’t become invalid because the government decides to put out some executive order. I’m gonna keep doing the work the best way that I know how, keep serving students, keep working with students until I’m told otherwise.”
After intermission, the event shifted to a short film campaign spotlighting the work of sophomore Emonie L’oreal and her Black and woman owned brand “Star Market.” Several of the brand’s pieces were styled and displayed along the front of the stage blending fashion and film. The showcase concluded with a brief performance from Renegades Hip-Hip dance team. Each of the artists were also presented with flowers from members of BSU.
Mosby-Holloway said it’s important that faculty and staff come out to student events, especially cultural and identity-based organizations.
“The students work really hard to build community and put on events,” she said. “We want to show our support and our love for what they do.”
Copy edited by Matt Brady
