- Good afternoon, everyone. Good afternoon. Good afternoon. Thank you. We'd like to welcome you to the
- Bloomington Black History Month kickoff. And to start, we're going to start by singing the Negro National
- Anthem. We're going to ask that everybody rise and sing with us. Lift every voice and sing. Lift your
- voices up. The words will be on the screens. So we ask that you join in with us as we sing. Lift every
- voice and sing.
- All right, everybody, please keep that round of applause going for the African American Choral Ensemble.
- All right, so good afternoon, everybody. You will certainly hear more from them later in the program.
- So to introduce myself, my name is Nia Iman Smith, and I will be your emcee for this event.
- And so throughout our time together, I'm gonna get to know you. So everybody just say your name out
- loud so I can hear everybody and see who's in here. Say your name. Beautiful, all right. So just to
- tell you a little bit about myself. So I am originally from Oakland, California. Anybody from the Bay
- in here? Okay, some representation over there.
- And so I moved to Bloomington to pursue a PhD in ethnomusicology, which means the study of music in
- culture. And so I am currently a doctoral candidate, and I'm working on my research. Thank you. And
- my research is looking at black women's acts and practices of collecting vinyl, and also looking at
- acts and practices of ancestor veneration in black music, so how it is
- that we pay homage to and honor those who have come before us, all right? So when I'm not doing that,
- I also teach at IU, and I also host a radio show on WFHB called Sonic Blackness Radio, all right? And
- so you can listen to that. That comes on every other Saturday night, so I'm not on tonight, but every
- other Saturday night from eight to nine p.m., so tune in.
- So with that said, I share all of that because community and culture are at the heart of why it is that
- we have gathered here today. This Black History Month is extra special because it marks the centennial
- anniversary, 100 years of Black history commemorations in the United States.
- history week founded by Carter G. Woodson in 1926 to a month-long celebration that was adopted in 1976
- we have honored black history and culture for a hundred years. So as we kick off this celebration it
- is our hope that it will reflect and honor all of the ways in which black people have contributed to
- the world in which we live from education to politics to business and of course the arts.
- And so what a better way to kick off our celebration than with an artistic showcase. But not just any
- art, all right? Not just any art today. We will be showcasing art organizations and performers from
- right here in our Bloomington community who are carrying that legacy forward in real time. So before
- we get into today's amazing lineup, we want to acknowledge our sponsors and contributors who have made
- this and other Black History Months
- events possible. So we have our presenting sponsor, which is the South Central Community Action Program,
- SCCAP. Yeah, give them a shout out. Our platinum sponsors are the City of Bloomington, the
- City of Bloomington Office of the Clerk, and also the Neal Marshall Black Culture Center at Indiana
- University.
- And if you have not been to the Neil Marshalls, certainly make a trip there. Our gold sponsor is the
- IU Credit Union. And our bronze sponsors are the Monroe County NAACP and IU Health. And we also want
- to acknowledge the people and organizations that have sponsored individual programs and events throughout
- this month and coming month. Our event sponsors are also the Bloomington Alumni Chapter of Delta Sigma
- Theta Sorority Incorporated.
- The Order of the Eastern Star, Southern Star, number 50, Jurisdiction of Indiana, and Stone City Lodge,
- number 54. And we also want to thank Pizza X and Jimmy John's for donating food items for our performers.
- Please give all of our sponsors a round of applause. All right, so before we get into our amazing lineup,
- we are going to play one of the hottest game shows that is sweeping the nation, all right? It is a trivia
- game show that is called... Black Facts! Black History Facts, all right? So how this is gonna work is
- that I am going to ask a series of three trivia questions, all right? If you know the answer to the
- question that you will see presented on the screen, I want you to raise your hand
- And are there gifts involved? Yes, there are. All right, so are we ready to play? All right. Question
- number one. This Ghanaian fabric is worn by many African-Americans as a symbol of cultural pride and
- was especially popular for those of us who were around in the 1990s. Yes, I was around in the 1990s.
- That fabric is called... yes, ma'am. That fabric is indeed called Kente clothes!
- So we have a winner, all right? So within this first gift bag, we have some Kente cloth, and then also
- have some wonderful artwork for you to take home, as well as a book of art by an artist who was really
- good at incorporating African themes and motif, Romare Bearden, all right? So this is for you. How are you?
- Question number two. Roberta Flack, Angela Davis, Jesse Jackson, and all the Jacksons had this item
- that made sure their hair extended to the highest of heights and their fro's stay tight. What did they
- have? Yes, good sir, over here. Come on down, you have one. So the answer is indeed
- an afro pic, all right? So within this, you have an assortment of old school haircare products, including
- some fake afro sheen and many other things that you can enjoy. All right. And finally, last question.
- This song is an example of a classic genre of black music known as blank out music. Yes. Cook out music
- is the answer.
- The song is specifically before I let go by Frankie Beverly and Mays, or rather Mays featuring Frankie
- Beverly. And you have a cookout kitten here, so there are some red cups. There is a tablecloth. You
- got a grill master, okay? There's also dominoes, cards, and unos. Go out and have fun. Go out and have
- a cookout. All right.
- At this time, I would like to please welcome Shatoya Moss, who is the Director of Community and Family
- Resources Department, as she presents the Visionary Leader Award. Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you.
- I'm Shatoya Moss, I am the director for the City of Bloomington Community and Family Resources Department,
- and on behalf of Mayor Thompson, we welcome you and thank you so much for being here with us today to
- celebrate 100 years of black history. This year marks a powerful milestone. 100 years of naming brilliance
- where silence once lived, of telling stories in our own voices, and honoring a legacy shaped by resilience.
- In that spirit,
- that presenting the 2026 Visionary Leader Award feels especially meaningful. This award honors an individual
- who demonstrates exceptional leadership, service, and creativity. Someone who leads with intention,
- uplifts their community, and reimagines what impact can look like across multiple spaces. It recognizes
- those who refuse to be confined to a single lane, instead using their fullness of who they are to inspire,
- heal, and connect others.
- Our 2026 recipient embodies that spirit in a powerful and deeply human way. At a time when black communities
- have long been expected to endure, to push through, and to carry more than our share, he creates space
- for something just as necessary, healing. He understands that survival alone is not the goal and that
- restoration and being truly seen are acts of leadership. He offers permission to pause, to speak freely,
- and to be fully human without interruption or judgment.
- In spaces where silence is often mistaken for strength and where care has historically been scarce,
- overlooked, he has always shown up consistently. As the only black male licensed mental health counselor
- in Bloomington, and I will say that again, as the only black male licensed mental health counselor in
- Bloomington,
- He supports individuals navigating depression, anxiety, trauma, life transitions with a deep commitment
- to identity exploration and development, particularly those from underrepresented communities. Through
- his practice, the Blue Sofa Counseling Services, he provides access and care in spaces where it's often
- been absent. He also serves several days each week as the embedded counselor at Indiana University Neal
- Marshall Black Culture Center, supporting students who seek counseling services,
- His presence has led to an increased engagement and, perhaps more importantly, a powerful affirmation,
- especially among black male students. They too deserve care and support. This is not new work for him.
- It is rooted work. The kind of service communities depend on for long. It's publicly recognized and
- long after the spotlight moves on. And his leadership does not stop there.
- For the past three years, he has served as a co-troop leader for a locally-based Girl Scout troop serving
- minority youth, investing time, mentorship into the next generation. And then, there's comedy. Over
- the past four years, he has taken stages across the Midwest as a stand-up comedian, using humor as another
- form of truth-telling and healing. A gifted storyteller, he draws from his lived experiences as a father
- and a community member, blending wit,
- Vulnerability and sharp observation to make modern life both relatable and laugh out loud funny His
- work has been featured in the limestone comedy festival the Windy City Comedy Festival and in 2024 He
- was named the winner of the Bloomington Comedy Festival and most recently he reached a major milestone
- Making his full weekend headlining debut at the Comedy Attic just last month Whether through counseling
- community service mentorship or comedy I
- He reminds us that leadership can be both meaningful and human, that healing can coexist with laughter,
- and that representation matters in every space we occupy. He is a proud member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity,
- incorporated, continuing a legacy of service, brotherhood, and social action. Just as generations of
- black Americans have transformed their communities over the past century, he carries the enduring legacy
- forward, bringing meaningful impact wherever he goes.
- It is with profound pride and admiration that we present the 2026 Visionary Leader Award to a man who
- leads with heart, humor, and purpose, Mr. Mohammed Sahir.
- So well deserved. Mr. Sahir, we will be joined by Deputy Mayor Gretchen Knapp while we take a few photos.
- So y'all still give it up for Mohamed. Obviously well deserved.
- Well, well, well. Well, well, well. Thank you so much. It means a whole lot. And shout out to the little
- ones out here belting the Negro National Anthem. Good job. I heard y'all. Good work. So it means a lot.
- I love what I do. I happen to be able to do what I do and love what I do and happen to get a little
- money for it, you know? So I greatly appreciate it. I've been a part of Bloomington for a while.
- All your entire lives, I've been a part of Bloomington, you know? Yeah, yeah. But yeah, in all sincerity,
- thank you much. I wasn't expecting this at all. My wife said, be here at 330. I said, it starts at 4.
- I didn't know what the rush was. But with that being said, I pray that you all have a beautiful day.
- Enjoy your beautiful Black History Month. And yeah, go Hoosiers.
- Congratulations again, Mohammed, very well deserved. And before I turn it back over to our wonderful
- emcee, I just wanted to take a moment and also recognize other leaders that we have in this space. So
- if you are an elected official, either past or present, can you please stand? We thank you for your
- service, and we thank you for your time and energy, and I will pass the mic.
- All right, so let's give one more round of applause. You're gonna be doing a lot of clapping today.
- All right. So now, ooh, I like that round clap. I'm gonna try that one next time. All right, so now
- it is time for us to experience some of the amazing talent that is right here in our community. And
- so our first performance comes from the Bloomington Montessori School Lower Elementary Program.
- ages six to nine are part of a learning community that emphasizes care for one another, responsibility
- to the community, and to the respect for the world around them. And so they will perform It Takes a
- Village by Dr. Raymond Wise, Lean on Me by Bill Withers, excuse me, one of my favorites, and the traditional
- gospel song, This Little Light of Mine. Let's welcome the Bloomington Montessori School Lower Elementary.
- child I use my heart to love the
- for that wonderful performance. And let us all let our lights shine all over Bloomington. Weren't they
- absolutely amazing? Young people have always played an important role in shaping our shared future,
- and it is their creativity, their leadership, and also their curiosity that will continue to move us
- forward. And so speaking of
- creativity, our youth across the community are invited to take part in the Black History Month poster
- board contest on Saturday, February 21st. And this is a signature event that encourages young people
- to explore history, storytelling, and self-expression. And so youth of all ages are welcome to participate,
- as well as our parents, guardians, aunties, uncles, play cousins, everybody are encouraged to
- have the youth in their area participate in this contest. And so also, there will be some cool prizes
- for the winners. So meet us right here at City Hall on Saturday, February 21st. And now for our next
- performance. I am pleased to introduce Jada Shivers, who was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. Jada
- is a first-year graduate student at Indiana University.
- majoring in African-American and African diaspora studies with a minor in psychology. She is
- a multidisciplinary artist working in poetry and painting, and through language and visual arts, she
- explores black identity, culture, and lived experience, creating work that invites reflection, care,
- and joy. Let us welcome Jada Shivers.
- I'm so glad to be here with you all today So I wrote this poem because I want people to know that you
- are black history in the making So I hope it inspires you to not only dream big but do big things because
- you are worthy of all good things This is not just for children before your inner child as well, so
- always dream big Dear child, do you remember your origins the start of your roots the DNA running through
- your veins?
- View your big, beautiful family tree. It's waiting to add your name into our history. Dream like Martin.
- Be witty as Shaka Zulu. Write like Lucille Clifton. Sing like Badu. Speak like Esi Dab Martin. That's
- my grandmother, a small gift from me to you.
- Sit like Rosa. Get active like Angela Davis, from streets to classrooms to pages. Create beauty from
- disruption like Coretta Scott King. Listen to the whispers of our ancestors like Abagunde. Free your
- village like Miss Tubman. Be inquisitive as Carter. Dream big as Obama when he became the first black
- president. You are remarkable and unstoppable. You are black history in the making, so don't you ever
- forget it.
- Thank you all. Jada, thank you so much for that beautiful performance. Let's give her another round
- of applause.
- One thing that I love about Bloomington is the art scene here and I really love that we get to see a
- lot of different artistic talent on display. After all the arts gave and continue to give voice to the
- movement and allows us to share our stories across generations and also amplify black culture.
- So this Sunday evening, Girls Rock Bloomington and the Neal Marshall Black Culture Center will host
- their annual Black History Month open mic. And this year's theme is Community Commemorations. And it
- will feature Dr. Gladys Devane, author and founder of Resilience Productions. Community members are
- welcome to sign up to share original work and read from a favorite black writer. And you can connect
- with Dr. Glow after today's program.
- The evening will also include a performance by a local band, the Lucky Sevens, and we encourage everyone
- to attend and support these local artists and organizations. Now, on to our next performance. Earlier,
- they opened the program with the Negro National Anthem, and now they will return with additional selections.
- But before they come up, let me tell you a little bit about the African American Choral Ensemble. The
- Choral Ensemble is one of three
- That's one, two, how many is this? That's 30, there you go. Just making sure, making sure. That make
- up the African American Arts Institute at Indiana University. ACE, along with the IU Soul Review and
- African American Dance Company are actually academic courses within the African American and African
- Diaspora Studies Department, which is committed to preserving and sharing black performing arts traditions.
- This year is especially meaningful as the ensemble celebrates its 50th anniversary. So be sure to celebrate
- with them during their anniversary weekend. Current members of the ensemble will join alumni from all
- over the country at the 50th anniversary concert on Saturday, February 21st at 7.30 p.m. at the Jacobs
- School of Musical Arts Center or the MEC. So let's be sure to pack the MEC and celebrate this amazing
- Milestone with the Choral Ensemble. So please give them a round of applause as they come up. Good evening,
- everyone. Check, check, check. Over there.
- All right. Hi, I'm Dr. Raymond Wise, and this is a portion of the African American Choral Ensemble.
- And we're certainly glad to be with you to celebrate Black History Month, and especially the
- 100th anniversary of this celebration. We're going to sing a couple songs for you this afternoon. We
- hope that you will enjoy them.
- The first song is a spiritual entitled, I Open My Mouth to the Lord. And as we think about the history
- of African Americans in this country and the progress that has occurred in the country, we know it's
- been a level of commitment for folks with determination to say, I will go, I shall go, no matter what.
- So as we sing this song, we are grateful for those who've gone before. And we thank, I thank you for
- Carter G. Woodson, who had this vision, and we're going to encourage you to do the same. I Open My Mouth
- to the Lord.
- my mouth to the Lord, and I will turn back.
- As we celebrate Black History Month and we've just come off the celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King's
- birthday, what we often forget as we celebrate that many of these people celebrated and pushed forward
- because they were people of faith. They believed that there was a God that would empower them to make
- it through the struggle until they reached that freedom or that place of deliverance. So with that said,
- we've been asked to do a gospel piece. So we're going to sing a gospel piece. If you know anything about
- gospel music, we know it's a collective art.
- We know it's a piece that allows everybody to be a part. So you get to rock along, clap along,
- sing along, shout along, all those things together. And this song is a song of celebration. It says,
- this is the day that the Lord has made. We've come to praise the Lord. But the tag says, come on, let's
- have a good time in the Lord. Anybody know how to have a good time? All right. Well, you can do that
- by starting to clap along, to sing along, to rock along. And at the end of gospel pieces, they have
- what they call a vamp.
- A vamp is a part that repeats over and over and over again. So when we get to that part, it says good
- time, gonna have a good time. Find a part, sing a part, join in, move, rock, clap, but celebrate with
- us. This is the day that the Lord has made. Enjoy.
- Let's celebrate together, let's have a great time together. The next song we're gonna share is a song
- entitled See Me. A lot of times the challenges that we have in our world is because we don't see one
- another. We listen to the stereotypical views and thoughts of others and we see what we see on the outside
- but never go deep and look on what's on the inside. And on the inside of all of us are dreams and hopes
- and visions and joys and all those things that many people will never know if they don't look beyond
- the color of your skin or the words that you say.
- And this song is just a song that, see me, see me, see me. And if we can begin to do that, we might
- indeed make the world a better place. Enjoy, see me.
- And we hope we take that message with us. We're living in a time and a world where people are doing
- all kinds of things because we don't acknowledge the personhood and the humanhood of one another. And
- if we could get that message, we'd have a much better world. This last song that we're going to sing
- is a song entitled, Shining the Light. And we're going to ask you to be a part of this as well. And
- we know the children on the front row are going to help us because they're just seeing this little light of mine.
- Now, in the middle of it, you're going to hear this spiritual, this little light of mine, I'm going
- to let it shine. And when that comes, we're going to invite you to sing along with us and share in it
- with us. And that part you'll know. But at the end, there is this vamp, right? We talked about the vamp.
- Everywhere I go, I'm going to let it shine, let it shine, all of that. So join in with us and celebrate.
- It's been a wonderful joy to be with you today. And we hope that we've encouraged you in some way. As
- I already announced, on the 21st of February, we're going to be celebrating our 50th anniversary.
- And we're having a hundred voice mass choir come together. There'll be alumni coming from all over the
- country to sing. We're going to be doing a concert, historical concert in the Mac. You're used to seeing
- opera there, but it's going to be gospel and spirituals on stage and you have got to be there. So we
- invite all of you to come and our theme is let's pack the Mac.
- So come on in, let's pack the mac, we'll have a great time together. But we encourage you to keep this
- celebration going and know that while they give 28 days, maybe 29 days in the leap year to Black History
- Month, Black History Month is every day of the year because African Americans have contributed in great
- ways to this nation. So thank you again for having us and enjoy, shine the light, enjoy.
- Be sure to check out ACE. That is once again, February 21st. Pack the Mac, 7.30 p.m., right? Give them
- another round of applause. And so we thank them so much for that beautiful performance. Next, I am pleased
- to introduce Michaela Taylor. Michaela, it's so good to see you. A little side note.
- And also Anu Dada. Both Michaela and Anu are members of the Black, Brown, and Beige Theater Troupe,
- a student organization at IU that aims to establish a platform for multi-ethnic students by exploring
- culturally diverse theatrical works.
- This includes showcasing and creating stories that define heritage, traditions, and values. Michaela
- is a senior from Anderson, Indiana majoring in theater and drama with minors in art management or arts
- management and business. And Anu is a sophomore from Indianapolis. Go ahead. Okay, Indy.
- and is majoring in neuroscience and has been involved in theater since high school. We are so happy
- to have both Michaela and Anu here with us this evening as they present some monologues. So let's welcome
- them. Hi, everyone. I'm Anu. And today, I'll be performing Surgeoner's Truth Speech
- that she made in 1851 titled, Ain't I a Woman? Well, children, where there is so much racket, there
- must be something out of kil. I think that between the Negroes in the South and the woman in the North,
- all this here talking about rights, the white man's gonna be in a fix pretty soon.
- But what's all this here talking about? That man over there says that woman needs to be helped into
- carriages and lifted over ditches and have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helped me into carriages
- or over mud puddles or giving me any best place. Ain't I a woman? Look at me. Look at my arms. I have plowed.
- and planted and gathered into barns and no man could head me. Ain't I a woman? I could work as much
- and eat as much as a man when I could get it and bare the lashes well. And ain't I a woman? I had born
- 13 children and seen almost all of them got sold off to slavery. And when I cried the mother's grief,
- nobody but Jesus heard me. Ain't I a woman?
- They talk about this thing in the head. What's this they call it? Intellect, that's it. What's that
- got to do with the woman's rights or Negro's rights? If my cup can hold but a pint and yours holds a
- quart, wouldn't you be mean not to let me have my little half-measure fool?
- And that little man back there says, woman can't have as much rights as man because Christ wasn't a
- woman. Where did your Jesus come from? Where did your Jesus come from? Came from God and a woman. Men
- had nothing to do with that. Now if the first woman God had ever made was strong enough to turn this
- world upside down,
- These women all together ought to be able to turn it around and flip their right side back up again.
- Now they asking to do it. And you men, you men better let them. Oblige to you for hearing me. Now, oh,
- Surgeoner, ain't got nothing much to say. Thank you.
- monologue I will be performing is titled The Mirror by Annie Labara. I am a queen, a slave, a princess,
- a clerk, a mother, a bus driver, a factory worker, a PhD. But who am I? I am the embodiment of the past
- and the promise of the future.
- Throughout my veins flows the spirits of Congo, Sudan, Angola, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Guinea, Nigeria,
- Cameroon, Mozambique, and Namibia. My ancestors' footsteps echo in the desert sands as they journey
- toward a promised land of abundance, a land of pasture and prosperity. I did not choose to be here,
- but here I am. Who am I?
- Do I belong? I am Africa in America. Am I American? Am I African? Am I both or neither? I don't know.
- My past is a constant companion shaping my present and guiding my future. I cannot forget. I am the
- scent of earth and grass, the taste of rum and gin,
- Distilled spirits you can taste with my lips. My skin, cinnamon colored and radiant, tells the story
- of resilience and beauty. I see myself in the mirror of life. They see my skin color and my soft curly
- hair. They do not see my soul. A life of struggle and triumph. I see my mother and my grandmother in
- my reflection.
- their calloused hands and their tired eyes bearing witness to their resilience, the struggle to thrive,
- to survive, to remember the past without being defined by it. I am vibrant, bursting with color, not
- just in my blood and my skin, but in my clothes and my soul. They call me black, but I am a kaleidoscope
- of hues, the embodiment of life itself. Today I choose red.
- Red is my favorite color. I vibrate with every thread embroidered on my dress, shining like Africa herself.
- I am loud, obnoxious, and unapologetic. I laugh with the force of a thunderstorm, my voice echoing through
- the streets like a song. I am hurting inside, but I am loving. I care deeply, fiercely for those who
- are mine. I'm a woman of the diaspora, migrant, survivor,
- and warrior. I am the rhythm of the drum, the beat of the heart, the soul of the African spirits migrating
- across continents. I see you. Do you see me? Do you see my colors or do you only see my blackness? What
- do you see? Tell me, do you see our braided hair? Those braids are the roads to follow, the path to
- escape. Those braids are our identity.
- They are the legacy of my ancestors' freedom. And so as I stand here, a descendant of kings and queens,
- of warriors and storytellers, I declare I am not just a survivor or a migrant or the diaspora.
- I am a thriver. I am not just a product of a history. I am a creator of my destiny. I am the embodiment
- of resilience, the voice of generations past that no one will silence.
- in the hope of generations to come. My story continues, unbroken and unyielding, for I am Africa and
- my spirit knows no bounds. All right, those were some really, really wonderful and powerful
- reflections from both Anu and Michaela. So please, once again, give them another round of applause.
- And so our final performances come from Fairview Elementary Show Choir and World Music Club.
- And the show choir features fourth through sixth graders and is directed by Brennan and Lee Wilder of
- Bloomington Expressive Arts Training. Following that, the World Music Club featuring students in grades
- two through six will perform Zimbabwean marimba music on handcrafted instruments under the direction
- of Dan Kusea. So let's give it up for Fairview Elementary.
- And I used to be able to do all of that. All right. That was an absolutely beautiful performance. So
- thank you so much, Fairview Elementary Show Choir. OK. And in the words of our beloved, our beloved
- Whitney Houston, AKA The Voice, she said, we believe that children are the future. And so you all know
- the rest. So continue to encourage our children to use their gifts and talents in a meaningful way.
- So as the World Music Club prepares a reminder to join us next Saturday for the annual Black Market from 10 a.m.
- to 2 p.m. here at City Hall. It is a family-friendly opportunity to connect with local businesses, learn
- about community resources, and continue celebrating Black History Month together. So be sure to bring
- your soft money. Do you all in this digital age know what soft money is? What's soft money?
- that paper, all right? Bring that cash. Cash rules everything around me. Cream, get the money, what?
- Dollar, dollar bills, y'all, okay? So bring your cash, okay? And you also can bring your credit cards,
- your debit cards, whatever you need for your purchases. And you can learn about some of the amazing
- resources and opportunities that we have right here in this community. So bring the whole
- family. So once again, meet us back here next Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for this very special
- event. All right. So once again, what time will that be? Will the black market be happening? 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- So you will bring once again what soft money and that is?
- rules everything around me, cream, get the money, dollar dollar bills, y'all, all right? And also bring
- your debit cards in addition, all right? So as the World Music Club continues to set up, I think we
- can use this as a time, we're only seven days into Black History Month, so how many of you have gone
- to any other Black History Month events around town? Okay, so we got a couple, all right, who is planning
- to go to some more after this?
- Everybody should have their hands raised, all right? Why? Because we gave you a series of wonderful
- events that will be happening. So once again, do not forget that ACE will be performing. That will be Saturday.
- February 21st 730 p.m. So let's be sure to pack the Mac We also have the wonderful girls rock Bloomington
- who will be having the open mic with the Neil Marshall Black culture center So come check that out on
- Sunday that is happening as well and you can also check out a variety of events that will be happening
- here throughout the month or
- You can also do a little bit of traveling and go check out what else is happening in Indiana, what's
- happening in Indianapolis, what's happening in Carmel, what's happening in all of the other respective
- places in this state. All right. So, once again, as we continue to get
- are set up for our wonderful performances that is happening today. I'm curious to hear from some of
- our youth voices. So Bloomington Montessori School, my friends who are up here at the front. I invite
- one person to come up, raise hand and tell me what has been their favorite part of the program so far.
- I saw you first. Come on up here and tell everybody what has been your favorite part
- My favorite part was probably the drums. I also liked the show choir. Okay, all right. So the drums
- and the show choir, both wonderful, wonderful. And you know what? I also enjoyed your performance. So
- thank you very much, all right. So now, everybody give a round of applause for our friend.
- For the final performance of the evening, let's show some love to the Fairview Elementary World Music
- Club. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. I'm so much here today to be here. So this music is traditional
- music of our ancestors. The way we connect the board.
- Music, as a breakfast and a six, will engage people. All our message comes through music. So music means
- a lot. So the day from the music, there's a lot of fishing.
- Enjoy that, everybody.
- And this move right here took me back when I was in high school. I did West African Haitian dance, and
- we would do that move also. So once again, I just want to, and we want to thank the Fairview World Music
- Club for that beautiful performance. And so it has been an absolutely beautiful day. I think that we
- have kicked off Black History Month right. Do you agree?
- And so once again, thank you for joining us today. And so remember, there are events happening all month
- long, all right? Lionel Richie has a song that goes all night long. Well, we have events happening all
- month long, even down to the very last day of the month. So Saturday, February 28,
- is the annual Black History Month gala, or some people say gala, gala gala. Now, we need to see you
- in your flyest of your fly attire for this affair. There will be a cocktail hour that starts at 6 p.m.
- and a program at 7 p.m. that includes some very special award presentations and a silent auction.
- So again, bring that soft money, which is what? Because cash rules everything around me.
- get the money, dollar dollar bills, y'all. Does anybody know who that is a reference to? Wu Tang, because
- Wu Tang is for the kids. All right, so be sure to bring that soft money and you will get a nice plated
- meal and we will end the night in a most appropriate way on the dance floor. So go learn your line dances
- and tickets are on sale
- online or also at the Buskirk Chumlee Theater. And you can purchase, excuse me, individual tickets,
- tables, and you can even be a sponsor. So get your tickets because they are selling out fast.
- And so again, we want to thank our sponsors for making this and other events possible. We already mentioned
- them, but please let's give them another round of applause. All right.
- And to all of our amazing performers today, the African American Choral Ensemble, Bloomington Montessori
- School, Jada Shivers, Michaela Taylor, Anu Dada, and Fairview Elementary Show Choir and World Music
- Club. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
- we need your feedback, all right? So let us know your thoughts about today's event by scanning the QR
- code and completing a brief survey. The feedback can be sent later, all right? So thank you for joining
- us all and have a happy Black History Month. Thank you, everybody.