With February being Black History Month, United Common Ground sponsored their annual Black History Luncheon on the Mitby Stage on the 24th. This afternoon filled with music, traditional cuisine, and dancing provided a fun break from the chaos of college classes.
The food, entirely donated by teachers, staff and students, included a classic array of traditional soul foods. Serving dishes of collard greens, beans, and an amazing BBQ pulled pork were just a few selections on the stage length table. The lunch was quickly finished with little left for latecomers.
Streetlife, the Milwaukee Bucks’ house band, provided entertainment throughout the event. Priding themselves in being one of the best house bands in the NBA, Streetlife delivered a Motown review that kept people dancing for hours on end. Tunes from Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson, and Stevie Wonder only begin the scratch the surface of the band’s repertoire. In between their sets, other entertainment included the first performance of this semester’s Afro-Caribbean drumming class as well as a student talent showcase.
After the showcase, the room filled to participate in a Black history quiz. Questions of Motown music and its roots captivated the room as over 40 participants used their clickers to cast their vote, at times surprising the contestants with answers.
Susana Valtierra, who is the advisor for the student run United Common Ground, said that the event has grown past its beginnings in the student lounge and continues to grow.
“The Black History Luncheon was an event started by staff, by Rhoda McKinney and Delisa Scott a number of years ago and it started out very small, it was just a celebration and by word of mouth,” Valtierra said. “Then it just started snowballing. We got more students involved and things like that. Then it outgrew its space.”
Since then, the annual Black History Luncheon has been held on the Mitby Stage giving the entire event the dark, small club feel.
Events involving students learning outside the class are not uncommon for Madison Area Technical College. The events around the campus have been organized by students, for students. Valtierra said that students are the reason these events happen and if it wasn’t for students’ participation, the activities wouldn’t be able to happen.
“My personal philosophy is ‘We’re all in this together’ so we’re really, truly going to spread the importance of diversity and how it affects everybody’s life, we need to all come together and make sure we all support it in no matter in what way.” Valtierra said.
Black History Month, started 1976, and was created for everyone to honor those who played a role in the civil rights movement. Having events like the recent luncheon is an interactive way to expand education beyond the classroom.
“That’s our particular mission, especially in Student Life; our philosophy is it’s a holistic approach to the college experience,” Valtierra adds. “The co-curricular activities that we offer outside of the classroom compliment what you’re learning inside the classroom.”