This month the Hopkins Black Student Union (BSU), which meets weekly to discuss the future goals and aspirations of the young black community, has been focusing on celebrating Black History Month (BHM) on the Hopkins campus with a series of events.
Au’Sha Washington, the Black History Month Chair, planned numerous activities for both the BSU and any others who wished to attend.
“The BSU is celebrating BHM this year with a variety of events that celebrates our past and embraces our future,” Washington said. The Opening Ceremonies took place on Feb. 2nd and featured social activist as well as author of the popular novel, Everything I’m Not Made Me Everything I Am, Jeff Johnson. Johnson addressed the crowd on the topic of “Unclaimed Legacy: Who Will Lead the Next Social Movement?” Washington explained how his speech was applicable directly to her as well as to other members of the black community.
“He spoke on how we can use history to better understand our future and how we could improve ourselves as student leaders,” Washington said. Vice President of the BSU Brandon Demory commented on the different, unique approach Johnson took in his speech.
“He challenged several parts of the black community that many people would not normally talk about including the church and social organizations. In my four years here on campus, he was definitely the strongest opener we have had here,” Demory said.
Johnson’s inspirational speeches attracted more students to attend the Slam Poetry Event, the next event on the calendar. On Friday, Feb. 4th, performers including Hopkins students and other members of the surrounding community who wished to be showcased, performed original pieces. Washington and BSU President Nick Brady were pleased with the success of the event.
“50 or 60 people came, everything went better than expected,” said Brady. Washington also said that each performance brought something unique to the event.
“The pieces were thought-provoking and each act differed,” she said.
The BSU then hosted the first of several meetings in the Conversations Series with LaDawn Black, the radio personality of channel 92Q (92.3FM). After having been approached by the BSU, Mrs. Black was excited to come to Hopkins.
“I have spoken at many other colleges, but never at Hopkins,” Black said.
The Conversation Series sought to create a small, welcoming environment allowing for the discussion of intimate facets of love, sex and relationships. Topics discussed included fidelity, monogamy, the definition of relationships and interracial dating. During these open discussions, students were able open up and ask extremely personal questions. At the conclusion of the event, anyone who was unable to speak his mind during the meeting was able to individually approach LaDawn.
The second Conversational Series, entitled “Blacks Converting to Islam,” were presented by two black couples, Zakia Amin with Imam Hasssan Amin and Tiye Mulazim with Imam Mutee Mulazin.
Imam Hassan Amin and Imam Mutee Mulazin both have work experience in the Baltimore area. Amin works today as an employee of the University while Mulazin works at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. They started by discussing the history of the black race and their own experiences with racism and prejudice.
During his youth, Amin was a social activist affiliated with the Black Panther Party.
“I was in the rally on the day of Martin Luther King Jr.’s death,” Amin said.
While he was a part of the protest, he did not associate himself with the violence. Amin pressed upon the point that the religion of Islam stresses and encourages change in a non-militant manner.
“Islam talks about the change of a person inside and then the community around that person,” Amin said.
He explained that he believes this is also why Islam is the fastest growing religion today.
Mulazin added that Islam’s popularity stems from its openness to diversity/different races.
“In Islam, and in life, we are all the same,” he said.
Next, wives Zakia Amin and Tiye Mulazin addressed the group. Tiye Mulazin had grown up in a middle class family in the city of Baltimore. She became interested in the Islamic religion because of its respect towards the female sex. “After two and a half years of being treated like a girl, I was ready to be converted to Islam,” Mulazin said.
“She definitely does not need me to speak for her at all,” her husband Imam Azim Mulazin said smiling from across the table prompting both husbands to share a laugh.
Zakia Amin explained that she, on the other hand, was drawn to the religion because unlike Christianity, Islam does not contradict itself.
“I would read something, read another thing and it would all make sense,” Amin said.
“I was a nerd, so of course, I liked a religion that was logical . . . I would expect a lot of you guys to like it, too,” she added.
The four panelists ended the conversation humorously and encouraged students to ask questions.
“I felt very comfortable approaching them afterwards; they seemed genuinely interested in my questions,” an anonymous freshman who attended the Conversation said.
The BSU’s final event for Black History Month will be the BSU Formal on Friday, Feb. 25th, which is open to the entire student body.
