SJC Brooklyn student clubs put on a grand finale Black History Month celebration Tuesday afternoon to recognize the impact reggae music has had on black history.
Khalia Foster, vice president of the International Students Union and the president of Hospitalented, the two clubs that hosted the event, said she and her peers picked this celebration as the final event of the month because of the genre’s important historical roots.
In collaboration with black history month and seeing that Reggae music has been so important in black culture, we felt like we should represent the genre and make sure there is information out there that this contributed to the history and the culture that black people have.” — Khalia Foster ’20
Sashoy Milton ’20, president of the International Students Union, said the music was used as a way for people to express themselves and rebel against white supremacy.
Some of the student organizers of the reggae celebration.
“Most of that was translated into the music,” said Milton, who also sits as the vice president of the Student Government Association. “People used the music to express how they felt — similar to the way jazz was used here in America.”
Tatyana Simmons ’21, vice president of Hospitalented, said it felt good to share her love of reggae music — a genre she grew up listening to — with her peers at St. Joseph’s. She noted that the music festival had the perfect blend of education and entertainment.
During the event, students learned about reggae music’s impact on black history and listened to a special performance by sophomore Akira Williams, a member of the music club.
