Students gathered at the Nebraskan Student Union for laughter and community. The Black Student Union hosted an Open Mic event to continue celebrating Black History Month.
Black History Month honors all African Americans that have either served, created new opportunities for others or given back to others in the most unexpected ways.
Students from all over UNK went to the mic to show off their artistic skills through singing, dancing and poetry. The event serves as a way for students to express themselves without being judged by their peers.
Elda Adoko, president of BSU, said the event is a way for students to be themselves and unwind from a busy week.
“We host weekly events every Wednesday where we do fun activities like the open mic night,” Adoko said. “It allows us to express ourselves as we all come from different backgrounds. We try to bring a little bit of ourselves to the table and we learn from each other just by being around different people.”
The BSU hosts these events to help students destress, and it serves as a reminder that students aren’t alone. It gives students the chance to take a step back and let the weight of the world drop off their shoulders for a night of fun.
“You don’t have to be black to come to BSU,” said Godiva Kekeh, vice president of BSU. “It’s open to everyone and our community is strong and we’re very grateful for that.”
The event organizers also participated in karaoke and performed poetry in front of their peers.
“It was the best way to express our feelings,” Adoko said. “A lot is going on in the world and open mic night is the best way to show how you’re feeling through your artwork. It’s a great way to get everyone together, whether they just sit and watch or go up and perform.”
In years past, BSU has hosted similar events like the open mic and has had good turnouts in celebration of Black History Month.
“Last year we did something like this and we had a good turnout for Black History Month, so we wanted that same engagement,” Nims said.
