As part of Baruch’s celebrations of Black History Month, an open mic night was held to pay respect to ancestors of Black diasporic culture that have impacted society today. The event was held in Baruch’s Performing Arts Center in the Engelman Recital Hall. Marcus Clindinin, a Baruch SEEK counselor, was the organizer and host of it all.
With the help of other Baruch organizations like the Black Male Initiative, Black and Latino Studies, and the Initiative for the Study of Latin America, the result was a collective of Black and Latinx people coming together to support one another.
“The best advice that somebody told me when it comes to hosting an event is you put in all the work to be here, so just let it be great…,” Marcus said as he explained the excitement of seeing his vision come to life.
The purpose of the show was to create and uplift more spaces for Black and Latinx people. DJ Moya Rey started off the show with her set of upbeat music as the seats filled with students, staff, and loved ones of the host and performers.
Shortly after, Clindinin appeared on stage and began his introduction. He initiated a call and response with the crowd, making the show both entertaining and interactive.
The two-hour show started off with a few words from Professor Jamel Hudson, a lecturer of Rhetoric and Public Advocacy at Baruch. He asked the audience to engage as he spoke affirmations for everyone to repeat.
Hudson’s affirmations were followed by a performance from Baruch’s Black Student Union’s first-step team. They performed a routine that mentioned the names of famous members of the Civil Rights Movement and gave a brief history of where the art of step originated.
The poetry section kicked off after they were done. Clindinin handpicked the short but strong list of poets, including Yusef Siddeq, a senior at Baruch. Once the show was over, there was a brief Q&A for the performers. The Soul Spot, located in Brooklyn, also served appetizers during dismissal.
Darian Stewart, a 31-year-old artist and graphic designer from Hardy, Ark., also had art featured in the show. His work reflects the duality of being biracial, half-white and half-Black, and navigating the idea of identity within society. His paintings include texture, vibrant colors, and a signature of juxtaposed magazine cutouts as faces.
“It’s just a play on my own identity, never feeling like I fit in anywhere, but also masking myself and protecting myself… pulling different faces to not represent just me but an entire representation of people like me,” Stewart said.
Brittany Barker is a poet, educator, and creative director of a company called Creative Soul House, and gave some insight into what the company’s mission is. They create programs, workshops, and social events that curate a place for Black people to be seen and heard.
“It’s a space for people to come together, specifically people who are overworked, underserved, and don’t have spaces that pour into them,” Barker said.
