Events started with kickoff
Students of Texas A&M University Kingsville (TAMUK) gathered at the Memorial Student Union Building to show gratitude towards Black heritage. TAMUKs’ own Student Engagement and Campus Life (SECL) hosted Black Heritage Kick Off last Wednesday as a way to celebrate the first day of Black Heritage Month.
The first 100 students who came out to the event received a t-shirt and a ticket for a free meal from AAA BBQ or Chick- Fil- A. This kickoff also included music and activities.
Omar Chavarria, TAMUK senior, explained why he believes it is important to host events honoring Black culture.
“We’re a lot of Hispanics down here [in Kingsville] but we’re diverse in culture… it’s really good that we’re raising awareness for Black heritage. I think just so we could learn about each other… it just creates more friendships, more bonds together instead of having more segregation,” Chavarria said.
Further explaining just how important Black Heritage is, senior and Black Student Union member Christopher Graveley-Rosado said it is important TAMUK holds such events.
“It’s important for Black Heritage Month to be acknowledged by the university, to show the history of the Black people in the university, because black history is American history,” Graveley-Rosado said. “Although it is a primarily Hispanic serving institution there’s still some black students that go here.”
SECL will be holding more Black heritage events throughout February, for students to gain even more knowledge and diversity for Black culture.
Events for Black Heritage Month include, Heritage Heroes on Feb. 9, an Academic Lecture Feb. 22, and an Academic American Heritage Night Javelina Basketball game on Feb. 23.
“Just as we celebrate Hispanic heritage and every other holiday, it’s important that we feel that our students are recognized and that our diversity is included, because we are an inclusive community and a campus,” senior Student Body Vice President Jacquelyn Estelle said. “It’s important that everyone sees that all athletes, African American students are seen, and they feel as though this school cares for them,” she said.
As the month has just begun and events are just kicking off, students are encouraged to attend more events to further learn about Black heritage and to show appreciation for black culture.
“I think that there is a lot to learn from other cultures and the diversity that we have on campus. So just taking the chance to sit back and learn something new about the person next to you is a great opportunity for everyone,” Estelle said.
