Wearing a traditional West African shirt called a "buba," eighth-grader Garrion Lang looked out solemnly at the audience gathered in the Auditorium on Sunday night. The crowd then went wild as he and several other classmates from Sankofa Shule Academy in Lansing beat drums and danced barefoot, filling the large room with rhythm and energy.
As the opening act for the second Black History Program, the Sankofa dancers and drummers set the tone for "Soulful Roots" - an evening of education and entertainment with music as its theme.
"It brings me to an important part of my history," Lang said. "Just being able to come together as a village and drum and dance together."
The show, sponsored by Hubbard Hall Black Caucus and Alpha Phi Alpha, featured a variety of performances and speakers aimed at spreading knowledge about black history and advancement.
Thirteen acts showcased the talents of individuals and groups from campus and the Lansing community.
Latoya Sleet, president of Hubbard Hall Black Caucus, said it wasn't difficult to find a diverse body of performers for the event.
"We all contacted different organizations on campus and off campus and asked if they wanted to be a part of it," the family community services junior said. "A lot of people were really interested."
After kicking off with traditional African dancing and drumming, the event led the audience through black history by highlighting different genres of music that shaped black culture.
The two halves of the evening were titled "Then" and "Now," and performances included slavery spirituals, gospel songs, a Motown tune and hip-hop break-dancing.
Dena Goodman, an MSU alumna and vice president for Black Poets Society, said the program's theme was a good way to showcase a different side of black history.
"Freedom of expression comes in so many different art forms," she said. "It's a great way for us to show everyone our culture."
The Black Poets Society participated by reading poems and performing an original skit about the Harlem Renaissance. Goodman said she was happy her organization could participate in the event for the second year because it is open to students and people off campus.
"It's not just for one group of people to enjoy," she said. "It's for all cultures."
One act that was received well with the audience was a rendition of The Temptations' "My Girl." Members of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity dressed in white suits, lip-synching the song's words while performing choreographed moves.
Economics senior Jamein Cunningham, a member of the "My Girl" act, said he'd be happy to participate in the program again and hopes that it continues to be held each year.
"Every year, it gets better," he said. "Last year's was great - it was positive, it was conscious.
"I always learn something from going to programs like this."
Emily Bingham can be reached at binghame@msu.edu.
