BYU Athletics hosted the third annual "Black History Month Celebration — Stories of Life," which focused on the stories of students, faculty and community leaders of color on Feb. 12.
In connection with the Office of Belonging, the BYU Marriott Center put on a concert series featuring Grammy-nominated artist, Blessing Offor, and opened by BYU’s Rhythm N’ Soul Collective, or RSC, a campus dance group focused on celebrating African culture through song and dance.
The celebration began in the Marriott Center concourse, where complimentary trays of appetizers and cocktails were enjoyed at the beginning of the night’s event.
BYU Athletics set out tall displays with a picture and QR code, allowing attendees to visually watch the story of campus students or figures sharing their experiences with Blessing Offor's musical interpretation of Black culture.
One of these highlighted students, Strati Young Jr., spoke about how it felt to be recognized on campus in connection with this community. He said it's been fun to hear the different Black experiences that come to BYU.
“Stories of life, stories of faith is what we’re all here to talk about tonight ... this is how God has led us here and we can celebrate it together,” Young said.
BYU’s Office of Belonging also partnered with this event to support Black voices that belong at BYU. Manager of Belonging Communications and Events, Shauna Clemence, spoke on the significance of this partnership through their local book drive.
Clemence explained that a pivotal difference of this year's celebration was the addition of this service project by the Office of Belonging, aiming to specifically to help local schools.
"We’re working with three elementary schools, and we’re hoping to get about 350 books to split between those three schools,” Clemence said.
The celebration kicked off at 6:30 p.m. with dance and vocal performances by Rhythm N’ Soul Collective.
After performing a choreographed nostalgic tribute to after-school Black stories, the gospel choir sang a tribute to Harriet Tubman in “Stand Up” and “Bless The Lord," emphasizing the resilience and strength of Black figures and leaders.
Henrietta Divine, a member and dancer in Rhythm N’ Soul, shared her experience dancing in the night’s performance as, “an opportunity to pay homage to our culture and heritage, and what it means to be Black.”
“My favorite part was near the end of 'Stand Up' when everyone in the audience stood up and joined us in singing and clapping. It made me extremely emotional and I know that every member of RSC had tears in their eyes,” Divine said.
Clemence also spoke to what marks this year a novelty to the Stories of Life Celebration.
“Blessing Offor is an awesome new element. He’s just a single, and very popular, performer ... last year it was a very different format with a lot of stories woven together," Clemence said.
The audience seemed to share the excitement for the famous performer. Blessing Offor took the stage for the rest of the night, playing a variety of soulful and hopeful songs.
From Chris Tomlin’s “Tin Roof” to Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s rendition of “Over the Rainbow," Blessing Offor performed a wide variety of soulful music.
Blessing Offor began his performance by stating that for the next hour, he wanted the audience to pretend they were in a church in the Deep South, regardless of their skin color.
“By the end of the night, I want you all to feel the same way, like family,” Offor said.