By: Abbey Raynes
In the second installment of ‘Humans of the Black Student Coalition’, I went to the Black Student Union’s Bowling event last Friday to highlight some of the folks who participated in the event. While being there, there were members from the African Caribbean Club, Black Student Union, other Ethnic student center clubs, and regular participants who go to the meetings.
Highlighting again this year’s subject of “Back to B.L.A.C.K a Legacy of Art”, folks chose from the same list of questions to answer that were centered around this Black history month’s theme. Revolving around authenticity and vulnerability, listen to the stories of these individuals, and what makes them who they are.
Previous Installments of Humans of WWU: Humans of the Black Student Union, Humans of WWU
Nia Gibson
– Coordinator of the Black Student Coalition –
Coordinator of the Black Student Coalition, Nia Gibson smiling brightly to the camera. Abbey Raynes// Wavelength
“Black History Month is a time for us to center, celebrate, and support the black community and black identity. It was originally created for us to review the year of the accomplishments, and the contributions of black people and to the world, and so now for me personally, it’s time for me to reflect to think about [what] I have accomplished, what my students have accomplished, and what our community has accomplished. To think about where we are right now, and what does our future look like, and how do we work together as a community [to] move forward. But also, how do we help others to kind of continues to center black identity and support and advocate for the black community. And for ‘Back to B.L.A.C.K’, when creating that theme this year, it was really about getting back to our roots and what does it mean to build legacy. And so, B.L.A.C.K is an acronym for building legacy and communities of kinship, so this month is really about how do we continue to leave behind our legacy, how do we use art to reflect that, and how do we continue to be a community, and what does it really mean to make community a verb and not just noun. So [it’s] not something that just describes who we are, but how we live in day-to-day life.”
“I think of the people that helped me the most to form who I am now, [is] my grandmother. So, Laura Ann Price, my grandmother, my mother, Teresa Lynn Price, they have really shaped who I am because of the love they poured into me and kind of really pushing me. But honestly, I would credit my entire family. They are very supportive of who I am, what I do, wanting to push and challenge whatever the status quo may be, and they’re open to exploring how do we become better as a family unit, how can we get our generation— so my sisters, and my brother and I, and my cousins like, how do we advance our generation. So, without their love and care, I would not be where I am today, and so I definitely give credit to my family, but specifically my mother and my grandmother.”
“I believe I’ve flourished the most with community building. So, in programming really being able to see our students and our community come together and have a fun time and really center joy, I think that’s where I flourish the most because I love to connect people. I’m all about being a connector. I center relationships and community building. I would say I thrive or I flourish the most in an environment that allows me to be my authentic self, but to also bring people together to live out their authenticity.”
“I really like my optimism. I think I am a very bubbly, very optimistic person. I like to bring joy to places, I like to make people smile, and make people laugh. I’m usually the social butterfly of our department or of our unit, and I really like my ability to be able to make others smile, and make other people feel joy and a sense of happiness.”
“I keep myself grounded by remembering my why. So in times of frustration or challenge or being flustered, I really remember why I’m doing the work, and even in just going through everyday life, I remember that I am here for purpose and I want to continue to create spaces, create avenues that those before me created for myself. So, to continue to break down barriers and to challenge others to create these spaces to help the black community thrive. I think what really also grounds me is knowing that life is just bigger than myself, and so, the more that I do to impact others, it’s the more that I really live out my purpose.”
Hosanna Abbay
– President of the African Caribbean Club –
President of the African Caribbean Club, Hosanna Abbay smiling for the camera. Abbey Raynes// Wavelength
“I would say my sister. I’ve always been super close to my sister, and I look up to her very deeply and I remember as a kid like when she went to college, I was so confused on what music I would consume, what media [I] would consume because everything I’ve ever really known at that point came from her. I’ve never had someone provide such a good influence, like a strong black woman should do. She’s so career driven; she flourishes within her relationships like a true caregiver. [She’s] someone that loves super deeply, and I model myself after her. I couldn’t have picked a better role model for myself, and she’s my best friend and someone that I know always have my back. I couldn’t ever expect a better role model for myself; or someone to use as a foundation to build myself and grow within.”
Hanad Adam
– Budget Authority of the Black Student Union –
Budget Authority of the Black Student Union, Hanad Adam smiling for the camera with his arms crossed. Abbey Raynes// Wavelength
“Black culture means to me to always work hard and strive for greatness. Growing up in a PWI, it’s always really hard to find yourself [in] this place, but it’s about loving yourself and making sure [to] keep your parents proud, your mental health, everything. It’s all about loving your friends, loving yourself, being your great self basically.”
Dibora Markos
– Vice President of the African Caribbean Club –
Vice President of the African Caribbean club, Debora Markos smiling for the camera. Abbey Raynes// Wavelength
“[Black culture] It means joy and it means community and just celebration of resilience.”
Yvette Osei
Yvette Osei smiling for the camera. Abbey Raynes// Wavelength
“I wake up in the morning, say a little prayer, and then, one big thing that I do is listen to music, that’s especially like Afrobeats because I feel like that’s when I get to express my African self the most. I feel like that’s one big thing that really shows authentic me like, you know African girly Ghanian, and then I just go out there, and do my thing, spread positivity, smile, try to make others happy and feel included.”
Tabitha Lee-Johnson
Tabitha Lee-Johnson smiling for the camera. Abbey Raynes// Wavelength
“I’m scared that I’m just failing massively at everything, and if I say it out loud it it’ll be true. But I feel like it’s part of life— to fail— and that’s kind of grounding.”