Arts & Culture
Milwaukee dance troupe Ko-Thi performs traditional African dance at Soul Food Dinner.
Attendees of Soul Food Dinner left singing praises
The Pointer
lgern177@uwsp.edu
“Will we be serving ramen tonight?” This was the rhetorical question posed by Black Student Union member Charmario McMichael at the Sixteenth annual Soul Food Dinner last Sunday, Feb. 15., in The Laird Room of the Dreyfus University Center.
His counterpart in this introductory skit, BSU sergeant at arms Ebony Rhodes, was quick to retort, “I’m almost insulted you asked ... BSU members slaved in the kitchen all day to make this meal.”
This meal, which was indeed cooked by members of BSU, as well as former restaurant owner Bill Right, may have included macaroni and cheese, but no ramen was in sight. Other comfort-food dishes like fried chicken and catfish, collard greens, cornbread, yams, sweet potato pie, peach cobbler, jambalaya and corn also graced the plate.
“We constantly have the chance to eat Chinese food or Japanese food, but we don’t really have, especially in Stevens Point, a restaurant of African American food,” Martina Spears, BSU’s public relations representative, said. “We put on Soul Food Dinner to have our university and people of Portage County to have the opportunity to feel what we look for in a meal and what we eat on a daily basis.”
Although soul food may have been the main attraction, it wasn’t all the event had to offer.
After the welcome speech by Rhodes and McMichael, BSU member Timothy Fair sang the black national anthem. The lyrics, an excerpt of which reads, “Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us/Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us/Facing the rising sun/Of a new day begun/Let us march on till victory is won,” imbued a feeling of hope in the audience.
Another attendee also delivered a personal poem. The ending, which read, “And I know that when I leave it will seem as though I was never here/But I know just as well/That in time/Others will find/That we were/ No, I was never here though I was born /But we will always be” likewise ended on a hopeful note and conveyed a sense of unity.
After the dinner, an award ceremony recognized Right and Multicultural Affairs Director Ron Strege for their contributions to the BSU.
Adding background ambiance before, during and after the meal were student jazz musicians Nick Claudio, Chris Dalzell, Ben Hedquist and Matt Andres.
For the first time in the 16 years the event has been held, a feature African dance troupe from Milwaukee, called Ko-Thi, entertained the satiated crowd. Audience members moved to the rhythm of the group’s hypnotic performance, which included the use of traditional African drums, costumes, music and dance.
“We definitely had something different this year; we never had an African dance group before,” president of BSU Anthony Fuller said.
Overall, Fuller said he thought the sold-out event was a success.
“This was an amazing turnout,” he said. “A lot of people came out to support us.”
This support is in accordance with BSU’s overall goal, which is to create a greater degree of unity and understanding among the community.
“The main goal for us is to have as many people join BSU as possible so we can make it more united for minority students on campus,” Fuller said. “Our group wants to bring people together; we want to make everyone feel like family and that everyone is welcome.”
Other upcoming events sponsored by the BSU include Gospel Fest on Saturday, March 28, in Michelson Hall and Cultural Fest on Saturday, May 2 at Stevens Point Area Senior High School. Contact Martina Spears at (414) 793-5204 for further information.
