On Sat. Feb. 28, Black Student Union (BSU) honored the finale of Black History Month with an inaugural event entitled Spoken Word: Good Vibes and Creative Minds.

The night featured several performances by current students and alumni as well as faculty and guests to the community.

Gift cards were awarded to senior Abigail Bucknor and freshman Lindsey Andre for best student performances of the night.

The event, which followed a Harlem Renaissance theme, focused on cultural enrichment and the history of the African American community.

“To be honest, it was the first theme that popped into our heads,” said BSU president Mercedez Williams “We wanted to create something similar to Busboys and Poets, the Spoken Word lounge in Washington…and we wanted acts that were uplifting and full of positive energy, so all acts had to fall into that general theme.”

The event, which was catered by Chartwells and held in the now reopened Butcher Suite, had a turnout of over 35 people.

“I was surprised to see how packed it was,” said senior Communications major Ashley Jones. “I’ve passed by events held in Kessel lately, only to see them practically empty. But there were a lot of people here tonight and it seemed like everyone enjoyed each other’s company.”

Nonstudent performances included poems by director of Multicultural Affairs Cornell Craig and alumnus Quadry Harris, as well as a performance by playwright Qurelle-Amani Wright, who read an excerpt from her one-woman show, Panther Woman.

Overall the event seemed to sit well with those in attendance.

“I wasn’t supposed to come, but I’m so glad I did,” said second year graduate student Charles Link. “I thought it was an excellent night to showcase and celebrate art, especially the achievements of African American artists and individuals currently at work in the community.”