Black History Month at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) kicked off with Brunch and Beats, hosted by EKU’s Black Student Union (BSU) and Center for Inclusive Excellence and Global Engagement (CIEGE) on Feb. 10. 

The event was hosted in CIEGE and included free food and music from DJ Lexo. Students from EKU, and allies, were invited to come out, have some food, and hang out. Students from Berea College, Georgetown College, and the University of Kentucky were also invited to attend the event. 

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, DJ Lexo played a range of hip-hop songs ranging from throwbacks to current hits. Foods like frittata, chicken and waffles, and grits were available to students to eat, and a Black-owned brand, B Brand, had a table showcasing their products, including stickers, pins, and more.  

“It’s (Brunch and Beats), just like a good time for us all to get together on campus. Have fun, eat good food,” said BSU President Amiyah Griffin-Taylor. 

Vice-president of BSU, Ruthfie Tyler, said, “We (BSU) wanted our first event to be not so serious. Where everybody can feel welcome, they don’t feel like they have to be forced to be an ally or be part of BSU. So, you know, food and drinks bring people around so we thought this would be a great time.” 

As a predominantly white institution (PWI), it’s important for BSU and Black students at EKUs to have a place, like CIEGE, and events, like Brunch and Beats, to have that sense of community. Many students of color may not see a familiar face just walking around campus or even in their classes, so coming together for something as simple as brunch can be a huge step.

“I know when I first came here, when I was a freshman, I had a hard time going out and meeting people because I felt like I didn’t see a lot of faces around me that looked like me,” Tyler said. “So just to have this space, have CIEGE, have the members, the directors that help us out to put these events out, it shows that they care.”

BSU is not the only student organization that runs events like these. Other student organizations like the African Student Association (ASA) and Latino Student Association (LSA) come together with BSU to put on events to support people of color in the EKU community. 

“We collaborate with everybody, so it’s not just like a ‘just black student.’ It’s a melting pot for all of us,” Tylers said. 

For other students, it can feel like a way to get out and socialize with friends or someone you’ve never met. 

“It (Black History Month events) shows fellowship among the students, and it’s more of a reason to get out of the house,” said senior Kappa Alpha Psi member Jaylen Herrud. “A lot of us are stuck on social media, worried about what we look like, or what we like, and we don’t really get to socialize that often. It’s good to go.”

Going out and meeting someone new or meeting up with friends is a great way to improve everyday life on campus. 

Throughout the month of February, students can expect more events from BSU. They will be hosting a Black Excellence Ball which will showcase rap and dancing along with a fashion show. The fashion show will feature both African American and African wear. The third annual Coffeehouse Poetry Night will also be happening at the beginning of March. 

“Each event for February going into March, we will have different weeks,” said Griffin-Taylor.  “We tend to focus on different things per week that overview Black excellence in Black history.” 

BSU comes together and meets on the third Wednesday of every month from 6-8 pm.