The African American/Black History Month opening event was held in the Paterson Room from 1 to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, February 4th. It is the first of a series of affairs for PCCC’s month-long celebration of Black heritage and excellence. Hosted by SGA, the event was highlighted by two guest speakers who specialize in slam poetry: Felicia Capers and Rashad Wright.
The afternoon's performance kicked off with an introduction by SGA Senator Janet Hilares Soto. She explained the importance of acknowledging Black history this month, asserting, “It’s a time to honor the pioneers, the activists, the scholars, and the everyday heroes who have shaped our world– many of whom have done so in the face of adversity.” Hilares Soto also motivated those who attended to be present in this month’s observance: “Throughout this event, and the entire month, we encourage you to engage, learn, and celebrate, Take this opportunity to listen to powerful voices, share in meaningful conversations, and embrace the richness of African American history and culture.”
She then invited the college president, Dr. Steven Rose, to the podium to read the proclamation declaring our continued participation in celebrating Black history. This affirmed PCCC’s long-standing perspective on celebrating diversity, even against the nation's present-day DEI rollbacks and political polarity.
He explained, “Events like this are key to who we are, it’s part of our mission… We’re not supposed to do this (events like these) anymore, but we’re not, you know, we’re not going to listen to that here at the college.” Once he concluded his speech, he brought Miss Susan Balik from Cultural Services to the stage to introduce the guest performers Felicia Capers and Rashad Wright.
The poets are considered highly skilled in their art, with each guest also being an author and advocate for their specific craft. Capers advocates for children and education through her work. At the same time, Wright expands his craft into not only writing and verbal performance, but also other forms of expression, such as music and film. He is also a former poet laureate for Jersey City, appointed from 2019 to 2020.
Each artist performed 3 pieces, with varying themes involving the Black community.
Capers started with her poem “I Was Born This Way,” conveying her unapologetically African roots as a Black American woman. During this piece, she referenced a line from famous poet Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise,” which communicates a similar message. In her second performance, Capers delivered prose with a single repetitive notion: “We be free like…” The poet used this verse to describe the hypocritical nature of freedom in the United States. Closing up, she ended off with her poem “Not God’s Work,” which elaborated on the destruction of violence within the Black community.
Once Capers finished her live readings, she welcomed Rashad Wright to the floor. His unique experience serving in The National Guard took a spotlight during his showcase, with his opening piece introducing the attendees to his life journey. His first official poem was titled “In Step,” where he marches in place as he highlights the inner toils of a soldier. Wright’s next piece was in tribute to his father, with echoing leitmotifs of a drill sergeant’s song as he instructed the audience to repeat after him: “It’s alright, it’s alright. It’s alright, it’s okay. I’ve seen better days. I fight the good fight.” The former poet laureate wrapped up by paying homage to his ancestry and the struggles of being African American in a work titled “Midas Touch.”
After Capers and Wright finished their arrangements, the floor became an open mic for students or staff who wanted to convey poetry spotlighting the Black experience. With nearly every seat in the Paterson Room filled, a handful of voices stood to share their work. These individuals were Darrison Rodgers, Thaddeus Chestnut, Isaac Belgrave, and Amanda Kibbler.
All four participants contributed different perspectives on the Black experience. After a thundering round of applause, Dean Leah Brown-Johnson expressed her closing remarks for the event in the form of a poem, titled “Forgotten Heroes.”
Lunch was served during and following the event’s conclusion, consisting of fried chicken, baked mac n’ cheese, string beans, bread rolls, and salad. Refreshments accompanied the dishes, including water, lemonade, and cans of soda. With a turnout of about three dozen attendees, SGA President Tiffany Guerrero was pleased with the impact of the poetry slam. She expressed her hopes to continue promoting the rich culture of the Black community throughout the month of February and onward.
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