BSA celebrates End Of Black History Month

The Black Students' Association (BSA) hosted Gore 2000 Campaign Manager Donna Brazile in its first event celebrating the completion of Black History Month yesterday.

The intimate gathering, co-sponsored by the College Democrats and the Harvard NAACP, of about 40 students applauded several student performances representing the past and present experiences of blacks in the U.S.

Offerings ranged from a reading of Maya Angelou's "Caged Bird" to a reenactment of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech.

Brazile then took the floor, telling the story of how she first became politically active--at the age of eight--when she joined her New Orleans neighborhood's demonstrations that formed the night of King's 1968 assasination.

"That was my first political movement and my first act of defiance against my mother," said Brazile, who is an Institute of Politics fellow this semester.

Brazile's mother had wanted her children to remain in the house for safety reasons.

"That became the night of my baptism," she added.

In addition to the civil rights movement, Brazile said traveling to Africa and learning about her family's history had made her realize the responsibility she bore.

Brazile then challenged the audience to be politically active, drawing upon the Bible for support.

"To whom much is given, much is required," she said, quoting a passage from the book of Luke.

"Make a commitment. Be like Coretta [Scott King], who used her great skills and opportunities to go out there and get young people to vote...Now it's your turn to lead," Brazile said.

Brazile also emphasized the importance of knowing black history and said it was a means of knowing oneself.

Karenna Gore-Schiff '95 accompanied Brazile to the event.

BSA member Fred O. Smith '04, who organized the program, said he thought the first-time event was a success.

"I hope this will get bigger next year, but I also hope you think it's a success," Smith said.

Yesterday's gathering completes a month of BSA activities to celebrate Black History Month. Efforts to educate the community about the accomplishments of blacks included daily e-mails, a Science Center display and dining hall pamphlets providing facts about Black History Month.

--Staff writer Juliet J. Chung can be reached at jchung@fas.harvard.edu.