For the 10th year in a row, students and employees gathered to celebrate Black History Month with the Rhythms and Sounds of Poetry. This year’s event was special in its theme, “Celebrating the Legacy: 10 Years in the Making,” and in its intention in honoring the memory of Ben Barnes, former executive dean of administrative and instructional technology. Barnes, who passed away last year, was a long-time participant in the Rhythms and Sounds event, sharing his love of music in song. At this year's event his family was able to attend this special memorial as well.
Roy Allen, music professor, and Hurshel Burton, English professor, performed musical tributes. The quartet of Greg Jacobs, sociology professor; Zack Miller, former dean of communications; Brad Thomas, academic advisor; and, John Williams, psychology professor; reunited for a special performance of some of Ben’s favorite songs.
Selena Stewart-Alexander, developmental writing professor, organizes the event each year and co-hosts with Bill Sigsbee, English for Speakers of Other Languages professor. Her son, Malik, shared a reading and an original poem this year. Hazel Carlos, English professor, shared her personal experience attending the inauguration of Barack Obama. Chris Cyriaque, ESOL professor, also brought in a component from Obama’s historic presidency with a repeat of Obama’s “Yes We Can” speech, and he shared an inaugural dance with Sharon Jackson, math professor, playing the role of Michelle Obama.
Students shared the stage with Sam Govea, assistant dean of distance learning, for a reading from Nikki Giovanni. They also read profiles for this year’s “Who Am I.” Rhythms and Sounds is Brookhaven College's connection to the African-American Read-In.
