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Part of BSU Plans a Day of Unity and Celebration, November 1, 2004

Text

9/5
The

By JUBY KURIAKOSE
Staff Writer

Spectrum

blacks and others
peacefully
oppose racism, and social and civil
injustices."
Students will come together
The Black Student Union, howTuesday to honor and reflect ever, will commemorate the event
upon the countless contributions on Election Day.
"Since the election does attract
and accomplishments of AfricanAmericans throughout the ages . media attention, the African Ameras they celebrate Black Solidarity icans who began this celebration
Day.
wanted to show •the political
The concept for Black Soli- strength in the African-American
darity Day came from a play by community," said Hicks.
According· to Hicks, UB's
Douglas Turner Ward titled "Day
. of Absence," according to Simone · Black Solidarity Event will be a
Hicks, Black Student Union Presi- day. of harmony to demonstrate a
dent.
rededication to the movement for
"(The play) illustrated social, freedom and justice.
political and economical conseParticipants -will commemorate
quences for the nation if black the day with a march froin the bus
people weren't present," she said.
stop .at Governor's to the Student
The
first Black Solidarity Day Union. Marchers, dressed in black,
will gather at 10 a.m. and remain _
was observed
in 1969 and was
founded by Dr. Carlos E. Russell, in the Student Union until 1 p.m.
;; a professor at Brooklyn College. . according to Keisha Etienne, BSU
R ussell, himself a playwright, treasurer.
·•
author and ~community activist,
"We are not trying to protest,
enacted the observance on his own but instead we are celebrating our
campus, but it is now celebrated accomplishments as members of
this society and we are trying to
nationwide. . .
"This
is a day held prior to educate our peers," said Hicks.
general elections in which blacks
The day's events are not limited
throughout . the country abstain
to just
African-Americans
the
on
from participation in social, politi- campus, but will incorporate other
cal and economic affairs of the minority groups as well.
nation,'' Brooklyn College's Web
"Historians from our association
site stated. "By their absence, will be hosting the event but we
.

will also have tables set up in the
Student Union, representing different minority groups on campus
because there are a lot of them and
we try to include them all on this
day," said Hicks.
The UB Step Troupe will provide entertainment as will the African inspired dance group Sankofa!.
BSU historians will give speeches
and lectures, Hicks said.
According to Hicks, an important goal of BSU is to educate
young people on the importance
of the vote, and the history of the
struggle of African-Americans to
obtain that right.
Tuesday's events will spill
over into a weeklong celebration.
BSU will visit the Zion Dominion Church of God in downtown
Buffalo ·on Wednesday evening
to speak to the youth group·about
community , leadership, Hicks
said Events such as this one aim
not only to commemorate black
achievements of the past, but also
to ensure that black people will
remain empowered in the future.
"The importance of Black Solidarity Day is the importance of our
people as a whole and being able to
vote and being able to say proudly
that we can celebrate what we have
accomplished within our community," said Hicks.