The African American Student Union sponsored a chalk walk and open mike event Feb. 18 on the Bakersfield College campus for Black History Month.
BC professor Paula Parks and African American student leaders coordinated this event to honor their African American ancestors, restart the AASU, which has been dormant for years, and bring a crowd together for positivity.
Beatboxer Nolan Long, 17, a first year student at BC, spit some beats into the mic and battled a member of the audience. Long has loved preforming all of his life and auditions for plays at BC. He learned how to beatbox six years ago. Living in Shafter, Long is the only local beatboxer that he knows and this event has given him the opportunity to collaborate with others.
Singer, songwriter, guitarist, pianist, Tammera Grays, 18, a first-year student at BC and a member of the AASU, performed several songs. As a natural singer, Grays has been singing since she was 2 years old and currently sings at her church. Grays has written three songbooks and auditioned, but was denied a spot, for the television show “The Voice.” Her brother is a keyboardist and performs in a band called “J-2.” Grays wants to get her degree in any type of music and open a recording and performing arts studio for K-12.
Singer Alex Santa Cruz, 19, a second-year student at BC, sang several songs as well as a duet of a John Legend song, “All of Me,” with Grays. Santa Cruz has been a singer since the age of 5. Although he loves to perform, he chooses to keep it a hobby. Rather than attempting to become a recording artist, Santa Cruz has decided to major in Kinesiology. Growing up, Santa Cruz’s parents were both musicians. His mother taught him everything that he knows about singing. As a sophomore at Bakersfield High School, Santa Cruz joined the school choir and later became a member of a band called “Black Listed.” He is a natural singer who has needed very little vocal instruction.
Singer and guitarist Eliza Dyer, 20, and poet Mike Williams both performed briefly. Dyer, a sociology major, performed a song while playing a guitar that was loaned to her by one of her professors. As a Highland High School choir teacher, Dyer’s father encouraged her to pursue music. Williams, a welding major, writes poetry pieces about African American pride. Writing poetry since he was 13, Williams feels strongly for each topic that he writes on and likes to share work that will uplift and inspire others. Just released from prison to parole, Williams feels that he has a message to share.
“Santa Cruz slammed it,” commented spectators Keani Hosino and Mariana Gomez. “And make sure you put a million exclamation points. He was that good.”
According to Parks, the event turned out better than expected, with a wide array of topics.
The AASU’s next meeting will be held from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. March 4.