Black Girls Rock

Taijuan Moorman

The Black Student Union hosted Black Girls Rock Sunday, Feb. 16, an award show honoring black women all over campus.

Categories included Miss Congeniality, Campus Involvement and Leadership, Performing Arts, Academics, Community Service, as well as categories for faculty and graduate student awards.

OUABJ’s very own Aunjanna’ Million performed a monologue on the black woman, along with other musical and poetic performances by Jeffrey Billingslea, Kaitlyn Wilson, and Alexis Apparicio.

 These performances highlighted the importance the black woman has on not just African American culture, but American culture in general. These students spoke (and sang) about strength, individuality and beauty, and all were uplifting in their own way.

Winners included Nichole Lowe for Academics, Professor Stephanie Sanders for Outstanding Faculty Member, Lauren Price for Community Service, LaDonya Jackson for Outstanding Graduate Student, Tsaisa Mercado for Performing Arts, Lauren Holland for Leadership, and Zainab Kandeh for Miss Congeniality.

Throughout the presenting of awards, a video presentation was shown of students and community members being asked, “Why do Black Girls Rock?” Interesting yet positive and encouraging answers were given for such a large question, from people of different ages and ethnicities.

Later in the program, guest speaker Faith Redd-Walker came to the podium and gave encouraging words to the students and faculty in attendance.  Redd-Walker is a professional makeup artist, and discussed why she enjoys her profession. She said that the opportunity to help women become confident and bring out their inner beauty was a joy to her. She also referenced the theme of the night, saying that the “Black Diamond” was tougher but more rare than the more common colorless diamond, and beautiful all the same.

The night ended with closing remarks and refreshments being served, but the importance of the second annual event is still enduring. With as many negative images portrayed in the media on black girls, and women in general, it’s great to have an event that tries to combat these images, and uplift at the same time.