BSU launches heritage video

BSU launches heritage video

Alums recall Holy Cross days

"We were all fashioned by the events in history we found ourselves in.  What we saw, what went on, how we dealt with our relationships -- all came as our being members of the Holy Cross community.”   Alumnus and Black Student Union (BSU) founder Arthur Martin (’70) shared these thoughts in a panel discussion after the screening of “Race to Start” – a documentary about the history of Holy Cross-BSU.  “I want this film to be seen by the entire Holy Cross community,” Art interjects as he affirms the positive message which the video aims to convey. “All of us can attest to the good people we have known.  We are all graduates of Holy Cross,” Art says as he calls on the campus community to celebrate the Black heritage of the college.

During the same event, Dianne Jemmott ('77) who represented the first group of women admitted into the college, remembered with fondness how she fell in love with the campus.  “This place is special,” she says as she thinks about the unique camaraderie among her peers then.  “We were in the company of men-rock stars during our time,” she says but “there were a lot of us women rock stars too.”  Diana still wonders how she ended up in Holy Cross, saying that “it must have been my destiny.”    

Debroah Hodges-Pabon ('87), on the other hand, believes that she took some time for personal healing before eventually coming back to Holy Cross.  “Being here today is about coming in full circle,” she says.  It is truly humbling, Debroah notes to be a “part of something bigger than yourself.”  “I honor this as my truth,” she says as she encouraged everyone to keep holding on to each other.  

For his part, Eddie Jenkins ('72) remembers how his peers in the college initially thought that they were heading toward a revolution.  Black folks, he said thought they were building bridges.  Addressing the young generation in the audience, Jenkins suggests that the bridge is no longer there and “we are in the water again.” “Don’t sit back,” he says as he notes the bigger problems the new generation will have to face.  “We all have to figure out how to get out of this (current) mess,” he remarks.

Current BSU officers Feliecia Jeter (’20), Nakya Lucas ('20) and Jordyn Shubrick ('22) for their part shared their impressions about being members of BSU.  “I get to reflect on how powerful it is to be a part of the BSU family,” Nakya states.  “It is an honor for me to continue the legacy of BSU,” Jordyn expressed. “Seeing the documentary,” Feleicia notes is heartwarming, a reminder of how much the BSU has done in the past.  Payton Shubrick (‘15) on the other hand, expressed how being a BSU alum is about “being given a charge to uphold the torch” that the group represents.  There’s something about an openness to change and wanting to do better, Payton says that “paved the way to what I am doing today.”

Offering his final words for the current BSU members, Art Martin assures the students that “we got your back.”  “You have an ancestry behind you,” he says while acknowledging how life remains a struggle.  Telling the students not to forget to ask for help, Art reminds them how “you have us” but “you will have to ask (for help).” If you don’t ask then you won’t get it.  You also have got to help yourselves as well,” he says.