A banner at Friday’s Black Power Rally stressed the importance of “unity, academics, political and cultural awareness” among MSU’s black community.
The rally, which took place at the Auditorium, is hosted each year by Black Student Alliance. This year’s theme was “The Time is NOW: Taking a STAND in Our Community.” Giovannie Thomas, BSA vice president, said the event’s theme provided insight into the importance of the rally.
“We’re trying to get the black community to understand the important issues that are happening in the community and create unity,” the communication junior said. “It’s about promoting cultural awareness.”
Students mixed and mingled prior to the rally while visiting tables hosted by various organizations such as the National Society of Black Engineers, Young Apostolic Students for Christ, Multi-Racial Unity Living Experience, the Lansing NAACP and The Legacy, MSU’s black student newspaper.
Shunte McMillian, a computer science senior and Hubbard Hall minority aide, mixed music under his stage name, DJ Reality.
The night commenced as Mark Nicholson, a history senior and trumpeter, played a rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” - often referred to as the Black National Anthem.
Various performers graced the stage throughout the night. Marketing senior Ron Elliott presented his original rap “In the World Today,” where he addressed issues concerning the black community and encouraged the audience members to lift their fists while chanting “One love, one nation.”
Darren Lamb, a journalism sophomore, recited a poem titled “The Hidden Aggressors,” while Germike McClendon, a Lansing Community College student, and social relations senior Maximillian Monroy-Miller rhymed in addressing political and social issues concerning blacks and Latinos.
The night was headlined by keynote speaker the Rev. Al Sharpton. A Pentecostal minister who was the first black candidate to run for a New York state Senate seat in 1978, Sharpton is known for his political and civil rights activism.
Sharpton prefaced his address by saying he was more concerned with the message he gave than with the way people would receive the message.
“If people like me or dislike me is not my agenda,” he told a crowd of about 500. “There are too many people caught up on being liked and not understood.”
Sharpton also emphasized that the term “black power” focuses more on strengthening the black community than on alienating people of other races.
“Black power never is and never was anti-white or anti-anyone else,” he said.
“Black power is about empowering our people against people who are anti-us.”
The minister said young people often reminisce on the American Civil Rights Movement and picture a time when blacks were more politically involved.
He also cited the execution of Texas death row inmate Gary Graham, the shooting of unarmed Guinean immigrant Amadou Diallo by New York City police and the police attack of Abner Louima, a Haitian immigrant from Brooklyn.
Sharpton said audience members are still living in an age that mandates activism.
“You don’t have to go ‘back in the day’ to fight for justice,” he said. “You are back in the day.”
Sharpton stressed that black college students must remember the struggle that their ancestors fought to allow them the opportunities they have today.
“You aren’t here by invitation,” he said. “You are here by struggle. People fought and died to open these doors for you. You should not come out as if you made these achievements by yourself.”
Sharpton said it is the obligation of younger generations to uphold the victories that their predecessors have achieved.
“You are the leaders you are looking for and it is your responsibility to continue the struggle that got you here today,” he said.
Berkeley Cobb, a finance sophomore, said she came to the event to receive “inspiration for the school year.” She also said she hoped students who attended the rally would receive the same inspiration.
“It’s a chance for people to learn how to behave and work together,” she said. “We should become one, we shouldn’t be fighting against one another.”
And it appeared Sharpton hoped students would heed his message.
“You owe to your children what you parents gave you and that’s more than what you got,” he said. “History should not record that we had more and did less work. It is not an option to fight. You must fight.”
Sheena Harrison can be reached at harri188@msu.edu.
