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Black History Month celebrates identity, culture

Bradley has celebrated Black History Month for decades, and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion is not stopping this year. Hosted mostly in the Romeo B. Garrett Center, upcoming events will bring African-American culture to the forefront of students’ attention and allow the campus to celebrate the month together.

According to Destiny Abercrumbie, a sophomore English creative writing major, celebrating Black History Month is not only important to the African-American students at Bradley, but all students.

“Since Bradley … [doesn’t] have a lot of diversity on campus … we want to bring out events, not only for people of color but for everyone,” Abercrumbie said. “They can come out, have fun, learn about [black history] because not a lot of people know how powerful black excellence is.”

The Zeta Phi chapter of the Sigma Gamma Rho sorority will be hosting the first event, “Soul Food,” tonight in the Garret Center from 7:22 to 9:00 p.m. This “Rhoyal” feast is designed “to give students a sense of home and empowerment using food, the universal tool,” according to sorority member Andrea Morris, senior English education and journalism double major.

“We all know and love food, which is why we think it is the most effective way to kick off Black History Month,” Morris said. “Food is a way to the heart and a key method of cultural integration.”

According to Morris, Sigma Gamma Rho has put on this event for years.

“We found that it is one of the most fun and popular events that we do,” Morris said. “It really sets a good message for what the Sigma Gamma Rho sorority and the rest of the Bradley black community has to offer.”

Fortunately for the members of Sigma Gamma Rho, this schedule coincides with their charter date, marking 44 years as a sanctioned organization on Bradley’s campus. They are one of seven African-American fraternities and sororities chartered. There are also upcoming events including Zeta Phi Beta and Sigma Gamma Rho’s joint “Soul Train” Remix – a local spin off a long time R&B dance show taking place Feb. 15 from 7 to 9 p.m.

Additionally, the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity is hosting a movie night on the Black Panther group at Landmark Theaters at 8 p.m. the following night.

According to Abercrumbie, this is her first time celebrating Black History Month with Sigma Gamma Rho, and she is looking forward to the opportunity to share African-American culture with Bradley.

“I’m really excited to plan these events, execute them and see how many people come out to show their support,” Abercrumbie said.

Delta Sigma Theta sorority will lead the closing ceremonies for Black History month from 6 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 28 in the Michel Student Center Ballroom. Bradley’s National Panhellenic Council organizations has also hosted inclusive and educational events to integrate African-American culture on on campus in the past and are poised to make 2018 more of the same.

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