Taylor’s Black Student Union is hosting the first “Expressions” night –– a celebration of black joy and multiculturalism, on Friday, April 29.
This event replaces “I Got a Sound,” put on last year by BSU.
“I Got a Sound” was widely attended last year, and hosted a variety of spoken and musical acts, many reflecting on the Black Lives Matter protests of summer 2020. “I Got A Sound” was a one-time event.
“Expressions” is a brand new event, but Goodness Korrie, co-president of BSU, hopes it will become an annual event.
“Expressions” will highlight a variety of spoken word and musical performances, but the lineup is also slated to include a fashion show, dance performance and a meal. Some food will be catered, but much of it will be made by Taylor students from a variety of international cultures.
Sophomore M. Rain Taylor will be performing her own poem about Black diaspora and singing “Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley.
“I'm really hoping it has the impact that ‘I Got a Sound' had,” Taylor said. “Showing that we're not just Black for one month, but for our whole lives. I just wanted to leave people seeing a little bit of what my life is like and what my experience is like. I can't speak for every Black person, but I am sharing a little bit of my story, and hoping people can resonate with it.”
Additionally, Korrie said the overall mission of “Expressions” has shifted from that of “I Got A Sound” in order to be more of a multicultural celebration. This has come about after the Table Talks BSU hosted, and the needs voiced by the students who attended.
“We heard a lot of people saying that they want us to celebrate more,” Korrie said. “There are things that have happened in the past, or even just happening today in our current days, that are very important. But we also need to take attempts to celebrate one another and just embrace different cultures.”
BSU is also working to shift their mission to not just be for Black students on Taylor’s campus, but all Black and African students from around the world. She is additionally working to encourage everyone on campus to engage with BSU, regardless of race.
Auditions have already been held. If anyone would still like to participate through food preparation or a performance, Korrie encourages them to reach out to her this week.
M. Rain Taylor encourages all Taylor students to attend, even if the event feels outside of their comfort zone.
“As a student of color (at Taylor) I'm always uncomfortable,” Taylor said. “I've had to become comfortable with being uncomfortable, so it's nice for other people to come to a space where we're comfortable and be uncomfortable. We do this all the time; it's nice for us to be the ones who get to relax and just be ourselves without thinking about it.”
