Black History Month was greeted with speeches, poetry, music and dance atan opening reception Tuesday evening.

The Black History Month opening reception is meant to serve as a preview of upcoming Black History Month events, as well as inform students about opportunities to get involved on campus.

It is an event “to celebrate the beauty of our blackness,” said Linda Barta, first lady and director of women’s ministries at Murph-Emmanual AME Church, who opened the reception with prayer.

The celebration at the opening ceremony was marked with a dance performance by the Sons/Ancestors Players, spoken word from the E-legal tag team, and poetry from Poetiic, among many others.

“The event is not a funeral; it’s not a sad occasion. You’re bringing people together, you have some food, and people are happy and they’re happy to see each other, and I think you can build on that,” said Sean King, Sacramento State alumnus and member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. “The history is obviously important but what it does is it brings the community together in a positive and respectful manner.”

Organizers of Black History Month said they hope the month’s events will unite students and build relationships.

“When you see people on campus, you can speak to them instead of just saying “oh I don’t know who this person is.’ Now you know who the people are because you see them at these different events and you break that barrier down,” said Vertis Wilson, senior physical therapy major and co-host of the opening reception.

Speakers focused on the significance of unity to bring about social change.

“We do not live in a place where there are two or three of us huddled together in a corner trying to survive,” said Michele Foss-Snowden, communication studies professor. “We are lucky and we are blessed that that’s not our situation. We live in one of the most diverse places in the country, even the world. Right here, we have a critical mass. We have the human resources that it takes to bring about the social change that we are looking for.”

Students were encouraged to break away from the stereotypes that surround them, and instead be optimistic about the future.

“We have 28 days to remember history, but we have 337 days to make history,” King said.

A complete list of Black History Month events:

Today

Hip Hop Aerobics

7:13 – 10 p.m.

Lobby Suite

Thursday

From the Ground Up: Memoirs of the NHPC

7:20 – 10 p.m.

California Suite

Monday

2nd Annual Carter G. Woodson Showcase

7 – 10 p.m.

Ballroom II

Tuesday

The Dating Game

7- 10 p.m.

Redwood Room

Feb. 12

Auditions for the Langston Hughes Poetry Contest

10 a.m. &- 4 p.m.

California Suite

Feb. 10-12

College Session Play

7 p.m. (Feb. 10 and 11)

2 p.m. (Feb. 12)

Studio Theatre

Feb. 14-18

Silent Protest on the “N” Word

Campus wide

Feb. 16

“N” Word Forum

6 &- 9 p.m.

Foothill Suite

Feb. 17

Royal Flush: An Exhibition on Scientists of Color

7 &- 9 p.m.

California Suite

Feb. 19

Langston Hughes Poetry Contest

4 &- 8 p.m.

Hinde Auditorium

Feb. 21

Who am I?

7:08 &- 10 p.m.

Foothill Suite

Feb. 22

Black Faculty and Staff Appreciation Reception

7:13 &- 10 p.m.

Ballroom II

Feb. 25

Elegant Affair Ball

5 &- 9 p.m.

Redwood Room

Feb. 26

Unity Affair: A Celebration of Harmony Across the Diaspora

5 &- 8 p.m.

Hinde Auditorium

Feb. 28

Soul Karaoke Night and Black History Month Closing

7 &- 10 p.m.

Redwood Room

Inna Gritsak can be reached at i[email protected]