The Office of African-American Affairs, the Black Leadership Institute and the Black Student Alliance hosted the University’s second annual Image Awards last night in the Newcomb Hall Ballroom.
The event — which third-year College student Kadeem Cooper said “really brought together our community” — was meant to recognize University students and faculty members for their expressed commitment to the University’s black population and conclude Black History Month celebrations. It consisted of an awards ceremony and a keynote address, delivered by Asst. History Prof. Claudrena Harold.
Asst. Anthropology Prof. Wende Marshall was awarded the Faculty Humanitarian Award, while Barkot Tesema was named Stand-Out First-Year College Student. Fourth-year College student Michael Horton won the Silent Inspiration Award, and the Image Awards’ Excellence in Cultural Programming was presented to The Organization of African Students.
The Student Humanitarian Award was awarded to fourth-year College student Chalais Massard. Fourth-year College student LaShawnda Brooks earned the Outstanding Mentor Award, while the Outstanding Student Leader Award was given to fourth-year Commerce student Andre Grier. Fourth-year College student Lauren McGlory, meanwhile, earned the College Career Award.
During the keynote address portion of the event, Harold urged students not to get caught up in the excitement of the recent presidential election and to continue to strive for improvements within and around the black community.
“Our generation, our current moment, will be defined by our commitment to excellence,” Harold said, adding that students should “raise tough questions that may put us on the margins of the American progressive movement as we understand it and as we address it now.”
Harold also touched on the necessity of inter-generational exchange, and asked University community members to question how mentors engage students and vice-versa.
“The key to the African-American struggle was training the next generation of African-American leaders,” she said.
Harold concluded her speech by noting that students are part of “a critical moment in global history” and have an opportunity to change and confront the complexities of the American economy.
“So, for a brief moment, think a little less about professionalization and a little more about academic excellence,” Harold said. “Think less about embracing solely an American perspective and think more about the global. Think less about building impressive résumés and more about fashioning a new political self and a new world.”
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