Gala Closes the End of Black History Month With Charming Performances

Bella Chirkis ’27

Executive News Editor

On Feb. 28, the annual Black History month gala took place in the Washington Room. The event held around 50 attendants at an array of tables where guests could eat catered food and watch performances that honor Black history and tradition. With hosts Aleem Ogunsanya ’26 and Maya Carnes ’26, the students seamlessly announced each performance with high energy, evoking excitement from the audience. The gala was a very structured event, with each performance being introduced by the hosts with a brief description of their motto and their purpose. With breaks in between each performance, guests also had the opportunity to socialize with one another.

The event began with a soothing meditation by Maria del Carmen Rodriguez where each audience member closed their eyes and relaxed through a variety of singing bowls. Rodriguez is a certified sound healer and is the co-founder of SoulCare Love, LLC. She does a variety of sound healings all around the world and at all different types of places, such as preschools and prisons. Rodriguez creates these transformative spaces for people’s wellbeing by bridging the heart and the soul. The meditation put each guest in a clear mindspace and relieved the everyday stresses people might’ve been feeling. At the end of the event, Dr. Anita Davis, Vice President For Diversity, Equity and Inclusion mentioned that she could listen to that specific meditation for over an hour. Marlo Simms ’27 claimed that she was so relaxed that she was “seeing colors.”  The meditation was the perfect start to the event as guests were able to get their food and enjoy it in a peaceful manner before the upbeat and exciting performances began. 

The next performance was a series of dances from Trinity’s Elemental dance group. Elemental was founded in 2011 at Trinity College as students had a high interest in the genre of hip hop. The elements of hip hop are brought into each dancer’s movements from their own unique and individual backgrounds. The group brought the energy to the audience and danced with their upbeat movements to a collection of lively tunes. Following the artistic troupe, Hartford’s Proud Drill, Drum and Dance Corp had an adorable and talented performance. Children from Hartford played an array of instruments such as drums and cymbals and the group had dance moves coordinated with the music. The group formed in 2013 and was created to establish a safe and engaging environment for artistically talented children. The children had a dance group as well dancing to the music that they were playing, in coordination to the music. The guests were entranced with the cuteness of the young ages but also the sheer talent of these individuals, entertaining a crowd in just mere moments. 

Maya Carnes ’26 had the opportunity to interview author Kleaver Cruz, a Black queer writer from New York City who explained to the audience that the inspiration for their book came from a state of depression and the idea of their book, “Black Joy,” comes from the idea of tradition. Cruz explained that watching the performance of Hartford’s Proud Drill, Drum and Dance Corp. brought back those emotions as they perfectly captured the meaning of their book. “Black Joy” is a project of both real world and digital affirmation and carves a path for other writers to uplift people and affirm them. When Cruz was asked about how to  spread Black joy to the people around you, it is most important to think about your own personal mission rather than the vehicle. 

The Gala concluded with a performance by the Trinity College Gospel Singers, a group of students and Trinity College alumni spreading a variety of faith to their audience members. The group’s motto is “praise doesn’t have rules.”  

In a conversation with Loretta Garcia ’27, one of the event’s co-organizers, Garcia emphasized the importance of Black History Month and continuing to celebrate it during current political times. Garcia said, “these people are underrepresented, and we want to celebrate them, which is at the forefront.” Garcia worked with the Multicultural Affairs Committee and specifically Davis, along with one person from every organization, to make this event happen. This way all ethnicities and cultures are able to be represented. Garcia stated “it is important to see everyone’s ideas and to make sure everyone’s voice is heard.”