By Elizabeth Olubodun
Assignment Editor
Students had a chance Saturday to participate in the second annual Black History Month Bus Tour titled "From Our Chains," giving attendees an opportunity to go on a historical journey through black history.
The tour included stops at the New York Historical Society Slavery in New York Exhibition and Harlem's Famous Amy Ruth's Soul Food Restaurant. Approximately 55 students of different ethnicities attended.
"We were hoping to immerse guests in African-American culture through a historical exhibition, and a soul food restaurant," said Cook College junior Needle Severe, a member of Iota Phi Theta, the fraternity that organized the event. "We chose this specific museum because it had one of the best slavery and black history exhibitions, and we chose the restaurant because soul food is a major part of African-American culture."
Last year, tickets for the trip sold out within days. This year, students who put tickets on reserve were told their money would be refunded and they would be going free of charge.
"The Paul Robeson Center ended up covering the expenses for the trip, and [the United Black Council] also made a generous contribution," said Cook College senior David Pierre, an Iota Phi Theta member.
"For $20 the trip was a good deal, but it was even better that we got to go free of charge," Livingston College junior Misenga Lukabu said. "I really enjoyed the trip, I felt it allowed us to learned about black history and celebrate the culture."
On the bus ride over, guests watched the movie Malcolm X, which started off the "journey to the past."
At the museum, tour attendees watched a performance by the Harlem Gospel Choir, and took a tour of the Slavery in New York Exhibition.
"Many people forget that slavery wasn't just in the south but also existed in New York. Today [New York City] relies on the labor of slaves, slaves were really essential to the foundation of [the city]," New York Historical Society tour guide Dan Riley said. "Slaves built Wall Street, the Canal and other sites which would become the infrastructure of the city."
Attendees felt the tour gave them a sense of history.
"The museum tour took us on a vivid journey through history and give us a hands-on feel of what slavery was like," Severe said.
"I chose to go on this trip because I was hoping to learn something about my history," said Deron Barnes, a School of Engineering first-year student. "The museum tour enabled me to learn a lot about slavery in New York that I didn't know before."
"I chose to go on the trip because I was hoping to expand my horizons and learn more about black history. A lot of people don't know about slavery in New York, and as a fellow New Yorker I think it's very important to learn about this, " Douglass College sophomore Janae Desire said. "I think it was a great trip, and more organizations should have trips like this.
Fraternity members felt the trip was a success.
"The turnout of the trip was great. I'm glad people came out to experience it," Pierre said. "It's good to have this experience apart from the usual parties."
Be the first to comment on this article!