At Queensborough, Everyone is Invited to this Family Reunion
Few things are as sacred in black culture as the family reunion.
They provide families with an opportunity to understand history, participate in traditions, recount past stories or exploits, reconnect with those they haven’t seen in a while, learn from older generations, and meet those from newer ones.
So, it was a no-brainer to use family reunions as the central theme for Queensborough's Black History Month kickoff event (sponsored by the President's Office and the Black Faculty and Staff Association) when it was brought up, according to BFSA member and ASAP Program Coordinator Stephanie Guilbaud.
“The 'Family Reunion’ idea was presented by members of the BFSA, and I immediately recognized that this was a perfect theme,” noted Stephanie. “Not only does it imply celebration, but equally important, I saw it as an opportunity to present a sober reflection of just why the family reunion tradition is so deeply enmeshed in African American history and culture.”
And so, Queensborough’s very own “Family Reunion” was conceived.
On Feb. 6, the student union quickly filled with students, faculty and staff looking to participate in the family reunion; and the ethos of one was immediately established from the moment you entered, with folks greeting you and handing out name tags with the monikers “uncle,” “auntie,” and “cousin” — titles that place more emphasis on communal ties than blood relations.
From there, the event progressed exactly as one might expect from a family reunion — plenty of music and conversation until it was time for a speech or two. After an introduction from Rodney Shannon from Continuing Education and Workforce Development, Vice President for Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Amaris Matos explained the intent behind the event and how it came about, followed by Dr. Lakersha Smith of the Social Sciences Department who gave a presentation titled “Black Family Legacies: From Teranga to the Cookout” providing insight into the value of community, black culture, and the historical connection to family reunions within the Black community
Afterwards, came a staple in any family reunion: games, but with an educational twist.
Two teams — Team Black Excellence (led by Dr. Kerri-Ann Smith) and Team Blaqueout (led by Reynald Pierre-Charles) — made up of faculty, staff and students (on Dr.Smith’s team) went head-to-head Family Feud style, tasked with knowing subject matter related to Black History and culture, such as “Black Athletes Who Changed The Game” and “R&B Groups from The ‘90s.” The competition was as fierce as it was friendly, and in the end, Team Black Excellence came out on top.
Th event started winding down afterwards, and after advertising a future event on Wednesday, Feb. 19 featuring Dr. Irvin Weathersby Jr. and his new book “In Open Contempt: Confronting White Supremacy in Art and Public Space,” it was time for food.
It was the perfect way to close out a family reunion, with plenty of conversation, music and so much food that there were still some left over even after folks went back for more. So much, in fact, that some people took the leftovers home with them — as is tradition.
And thus, Queensborough’s Family Reunion came to an end, marking the beginning of our Black History Month celebrations. According to Stephanie, events like this are important because of what they offer to the community.
“BHM events are important because they create a space for education, reflection, and celebration of the rich history, contributions, and achievements of black people that are often overlooked. QCC is home to individuals from all backgrounds and these events offer the opportunity to foster appreciation and understanding that benefits all of us. This also works to build the ‘culture of care’ that our leadership is working to cultivate.”
The need to build this “culture of care” is noteworthy because one pillar of Queensborough’s five-year strategic plan is to improve first year retention rates among black students — especially black men.
By holding these events, we illustrate that there are spaces on campus that can be a home for students, establishing that QCC itself is more than a campus or institution — a sentiment Stephanie echoed in her comments.
“First and foremost, I hope the Black people in the QCC community find the space a real ‘home’ where we are free to appreciate each other. I hope this will be an opportunity for us all to feel connected. Second, I hope the general QCC community will learn just how much ‘family’ means to us.”
As for the Family Reunion, Stephanie hoped that everyone left feeling “lifted and with the same sense of awe that [she] feels at our exceptional resilience and mighty spirit.”
And judging by the words and expressions of students around campus afterwards, they certainly did.
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