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Syracuse University marked the end of Black History Month on Sunday with a closing ceremony celebrating culture, history and community. The event incorporated music, dance and open dialogue.

The event, hosted by SU’s Black History Month Committee, aimed to bring the university community together to celebrate Black lives and labor, said Joshua Garvin, a senior in the College of Visual and Performing Arts and member of the committee.

The BHM committee — comprised of four SU students, along with faculty and staff — opened the ceremony with an overview of BHM’s legacy before performances from SU’s Creations Dance Troupe and singer Rotimi.

“It can be hard enough just making your way every day on a campus like this,” Garvin said. “Everybody deserves to be here, but it’s important to continue to just not invite somebody into a space, and additionally take care of them and invite them in and have the right awareness for them and show them love, show them support.”

Garvin said being a part of the committee allowed him to bring people from across the SU community together, who may not usually have the time to meet, relax and celebrate their different cultures and traditions.

Tommy DaSilva, a junior triple majoring in public health, policy studies and citizenship and public engagement, said SU hosting events like the BHM ceremony made them feel more comfortable despite President Donald Trump’s anti-DEIA policies, but more can and should be done.

Ike Wood | Staff Photographer

Rotimi performed a set of his songs and allowed students to take the stage and dance alongside him.

Trump’s executive orders have pressured government-affiliated institutions to eliminate DEIA-related language and initiatives, particularly in education. Some universities, such as the University of North Carolina, received threats from the current administration to remove federal funding after failing to comply with the elimination of DEIA programs. For UNC, this equated to losing over $1.4 billion in annual federal research funding.

While arts and cultural programs suffer, Chris Krouba, a SU student and Creations Dance Troupe’s coordinator, said it’s especially important to recognize the importance of these fields and celebrate them in the face of shifting public opinion. Krouba also said it’s crucial to build community while acknowledging historic struggles for the Black community in the arts.

DaSilva said while celebrating Black History Month is important, Black culture and community should be honored all year round, especially in light of the anti-DEIA federal policies.

“Students are scared,” DaSilva said. “There may be some people who don’t believe that, but people are scared. People need these types of events to build community, to feel solid and to be able to have a good campus experience.”

Gabrielle Barnett, a freshman majoring in television, radio and film, said she appreciated SU’s willingness to host events like the ceremony, but felt disappointed by the event’s turnout.

“Without showing out in numbers how important we think these clubs are and Black History Month is, the school’s gonna think we don’t care, so they’re not gonna give as much attention to it as they did just now, very obviously, to it in the next upcoming years,” Barnett said.

King Love, a sophomore finance and data analytics major, echoed DaSilva and Barnett, saying while the direction of current conversations surrounding DEIA in government is unfortunate, attending events like the ceremony and celebrating the work of performers helps showcase impact.

Ike Wood | Staff Photographer

Krouba said he hopes people recognize the role the arts play in the community after attending the ceremony.

Creations Dance Troupe, whose dance routine was choreographed to reflect the ceremony’s theme of African Americans and Labor, started practicing in December, Krouba said. The dance company performed to music alongside a script read by Cedric Bolton, former coordinator of SU’s Education Outreach Program. Bolton spoke about the importance of Black history and recognizing the Black experience.

“We are the global majority, fighting for our Black lives to matter, which is justice for all,” Bolton said during the performance. “Fighting for representation in our intersectional dimensions of identity to be displayed in art, in science, in politics around the world.”

To close out the night, Rotimi performed a set of his songs and allowed students to take the stage and dance alongside him.

After Rotimi’s performance, Krouba said he hopes people recognize the role the arts play in the community, and their importance within a setting like SU. Although DEIA-related tensions are rising, he said it shouldn’t prevent engagement with celebrations like BHM.

“We as a community ourselves, have to show up for these events. We can’t just keep wishing more when we’re not going to what’s already here, like we can’t ask for more. When the events are not being filled, we have to participate,” Krouba said. “The more we participate, the more people are willing to give.”

Published on March 3, 2025 at 2:06 am

Contact Arabella: akklonow@syr.edu