REVIEW: BSU’s annual Black History Month presentation is more subdued when online, but no less informative than usual

Sarah Olson|February 13, 2021

Courtesy of SCHS Creative Media Representatives

BSU’s Black History Month presentation premiered on the “SCHS Tech Reps” YouTube channel.

SCHS’s Black Student Union, in honor of February being Black History Month, released their annual presentation on Thursday, Feb. 11, on the SCHS Tech Reps YouTube channel.

The presentation consists primarily of a well-edited selection of photos depicting African-American pioneers, from Venus Williams, the first African American to be ranked number one in tennis, to Kamala Harris becoming the first woman of color to hold the office of Vice President.

Some sections of the presentation are narrated by SCHS’s College and Career Resource Technician, Anthony Butler, as he discusses places and events that shaped African-American culture, such as the Civil Rights Trail across the Southeastern United States.

The presentation ends with “a pledge of unity”: a beautiful choir recording of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” a hymn referred to as the “Black National Anthem.” It creates a hopeful tone for the end of the presentation: through unity and tenacity, anything can be conquered.

The presentation is only 11 minutes in duration and therefore lacking much of what normally makes up the BSU presentation: cultural performances, live songs and a sense of community that simply is not feasible through distance learning.

Rather, the 2021 presentation focuses on historical figures. It acknowledges achievements of African Americans in US history, shedding light on accomplishments that are often overlooked.

The BSU presentation does its best to remind the Bruin community of the unifying history, especially after the Black Lives Matter protests this past summer as a result of racial injustices and as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to separate people.

Though the anticipated Black History Month presentation is shorter and less lively than a typical year, it is no less informative. BSU continues to do the important job of telling Black stories and educating SCHS about the rich history that helps to define our community as welcomingly diverse and cultural.