Sprinkling some #BlackGirlMagic on Bradley’s campus

February 15, 2020-Bradley's speech team presents their annual Black History Showcase.

In honor of black history month, Bradley’s speech team presented their 7th annual Black History Showcase at the Dingledine Music Center.

Performers touched on essential topics that spread the knowledge of black culture to enlighten their audience about the importance of Black History Month.

“Celebrating Black History Month gives all black people a chance to come together to celebrate, despite our hardships,” said, Jahne Manifold, a sophomore at Bradley University.

Now, one topic that was mentioned during this showcase is the essence of soul food and the impact it has on the black community.

Cassandra Edlund, a senior at Bradley, mentioned in her oral interpretation that in society, white people try to force black people into this healthier lifestyle.

However, Edlund mentions how the roots of soul food created a bond in the black community for generations. Food such as; fried chicken, collard greens, mac & cheese are recipes that were created in black communities from oppression.

Although, food is love among the black community, the message Edlund wanted to leave with her audience  is, “to promote keeping our culture through food, while exploring nutritious eating habits.”

Now, shifting from the topic of food to the impact of a black woman's mental health. According to Barnett, there are positives to being a strong black woman, they keep pushing through hardships, but this place their mental and physical health at risk.

Also, during Jahne Manifold’s poetry piece she addresses the negative impact of having this stereotype of teaching black women to be strong at a young age to survive.

“Black women’s health is important to realize, black women should not be stereotyped with no necessary healing,” said Manifold. She continues to say that black women are strong, yet they are human, they deserve to heal as well.

Then, ending the show on a humorous note, another performer enlightened her audience with humor about the questions people are afraid to ask about her wearing the hijab.

(Photo of Haleemah Na'Allah shot by Mernine Ameris)

Haleemah Na’Allah, a junior at Bradley mentions in her piece that there are three things people get wrong about the hijab: don’t know what the hijab is, don’t know who the hijab is for and society listens to the wrong people about the hijab.

Na’Allah continues to say that the hijab is another excuse for people to judge her other than her physical appearance. The purpose of her performance was that, “people shouldn’t be afraid to ask questions they don’t know.”

Therefore, showcases are important for those who don’t understand the importance of celebrating black culture.