On a small stage in the primary room of Entrance Porch, Kayci Blevins sang the opening notes of “Nearly There” from “The Princess and the Frog,” kicking off The Vibe Open Mic & Poetry Slam on Feb. 21.
The viewers clapped alongside to the beat, bursting into applause because the music got here to an finish.
“It was an ideal solution to begin the evening to embrace Black Historical past Month and simply spotlight one thing that we actually maintain expensive to us in our group,” mentioned Blevins, Black Pupil Union (BSU) president and a baby growth junior.
BSU and the Black Academic Excellence Center hosted the occasion, offering college students an area to carry out music, poetry and dance.
Sometimes held twice a 12 months, The Vibe sometimes options one open mic evening centered round poetry and one other centered on music performances, based on Léanne Ngounou, BSU co-programming director and a microbiology junior. This 12 months, nevertheless, these occasions have been mixed into one.
“I really feel like we don’t actually get to listen to everybody’s particular skills or simply what’s on their thoughts daily, so it’s good to have an area to showcase that,” Ngounou mentioned.
Pupil performances included unique acoustic guitar songs, duets, poetry and music covers.
Communications research sophomore Ava Jimmerson took the stage primarily to help her associates, however stepped out of her consolation zone to carry out “Love” by Keyshia Cole earlier than intermission. Later, she carried out a duet of “Redemption Music” by Bob Marley.
“I hope you guys take a second to let the lyrics resonate with you,” Jimmerson mentioned after her efficiency. “I feel it’s actually nice BSU introduced this collectively in these instances of trial and tribulation brought on by our authorities. No govt order can take away our skill to come back collectively as a group and to share our experiences and love for one another.”
Big Head Little Feet, a band of 4 college students, carried out two covers: “Peaceable Straightforward Feeling” by the Eagles and “Charleston Lady” by Tyler Childers.
Adanna Okiwelu, co-programming director for BSU and an economics sophomore, carried out unique poetry titled “The Home That Nonetheless Lives” about preserving the reminiscence of her grandmother’s home.
“Poetry for me has actually been an outlet, and I’m actually excited to have the ability to share it with individuals,” Okiwelu mentioned. “There’s something about being on stage and sharing your phrases, sharing your coronary heart, and I actually assume that’s what poetry is about.”
Performers had the chance to enroll forward of time, however the organizers additionally accepted at-the-door signups, Okiwelu mentioned.
“There are some people who get the itch, the urge to go up there,” Ngounou mentioned. “As soon as somebody begins singing, you’re like, ‘You understand what? I feel I can try this too.’”
Close to the tip of the evening, college students Jaylyn Harris, Ajia Walker and Nailah DuBose got here as much as carry out “Revolution” by Kirk Franklin, encouraging the viewers to face and lift their fingers.
Industrial expertise and packing sophomore Jamel Cleaves didn’t attend this occasion final 12 months, so he was to see what it was about.
“I’m glad that I got here this 12 months and obtained to expertise it and see how attention-grabbing it really is,” Cleaves mentioned. “I’m actually having fun with it.”
For Ngounou, combining the 2 occasions this 12 months made the evening further particular.
“Particularly as a result of it’s throughout Black Historical past Month, so I’m positive that there’s extra on individuals’s minds, and so they get to share that right here,” Ngounou mentioned.
