“It’s called Black Excellence Through the Ages, and it’s all about the way that black people have contributed to not just the United States, but to the globe, to the world,” said Robin Riley-Casey, director of Multicultural Life, of the event that happened on Feb. 13 at Muhlenberg.
Black Excellence Through the Ages occurred in the Event Space, which was important to the organizers of the event. Riley-Casey says, “It’s really important for Muhlenberg folk to experience this many black people in one space at one time that we normally don’t get a chance to see. This many black people on this [campus] is a huge event. So I’m really happy for it to be happening right here in Seegers versus over in Miller Forum or in Empie Theatre.”
Kiana Cox Jones, assistant director of Multicultural Life, explained that “Tonight is a celebration of black excellence, a celebration of resilience, a celebration of honoring our past, paying tribute to the now; but sometimes we wait [until] the now is the past. But we’re honoring now and then making a way for our future, and you all, you students, y’all are our future.”
“It’s really important for Muhlenberg folk to experience this many black people in one space at one time that we normally don’t get a chance to see.”
Jones added, “Black, white, Asian, Hispanic, you all are our future and [we are] showing you all how we come together as a community to build inclusion and equity. So tonight we are celebrating the people in our community who are of African-American descent to remind them that we appreciate what you’ve done for us. We appreciate all of the blood, sweat and tears you put into that and then creating a legacy for those who are coming afterwards.”
The event honored members of the Allentown community who exemplify Black excellence. These individuals included Steven Smith, a Muhlenberg alum who founded the Men of Color Network; Hasshan Batts, Ph.D., from Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley; Pastor Juanita Davis of Greater Shiloh Church and Muhlenberg’s own Professor Roberta Meek, lecturer of Media & Communication and History.
A series of performers were also featured at the event. The performances included a mime dance performance, a dramatic interpretation performance, a performance by the Greater Shiloh Church Karar Liturgical Dance Ministry, the Muhlenberg Gospel Choir, and a performance of the song “Rise Up.”
Casey shared the importance of honoring those who received awards, saying, “Those contributions matter; in the arts, in the academy, certainly in music and language. But more importantly, it matters to the people who are coming to this event night. And that is our Allentonian friends, the Lehigh Valley friends, Muhlenberg College friends; it’s a way to acknowledge the work and the creativity of our young people, the way to acknowledge people who have put in a lot of the energy and the time and the commitment to lift others up when things get rough. And so tonight is all about celebration.”
Kelsey L. Casimir ‘23, junior production assistant for the event, explained the importance of the event to her, saying, “[Muhlenberg] being a PWI [Primarily White Institution], to honor black people, I feel like [it’s important] to show that we also contribute to the community as well … I feel like in order to get change on this campus, we need to inspire. What these four honorees do in their [lives] and in their service is they inspire us to be better people as well as to serve our community.”
The event largely centered around honoring Meek, who recently announced she is beginning a phased retirement plan over the course of the next two years. Meek received the Civil Rights, Toni Morrison Award which was presented by Emanuela Kucik, Ph.D., assistant professor of English and Africana Studies. Kucik said in her speech, “About two years ago, I visited Muhlenberg’s campus for the first time. I got to spend much of my visit with a phenomenal human being named Professor Roberta Meek, and for lunch we went to the dining hall immediately. A student came up to Professor Meek and told her she missed her. Professor Meek asked how one of the student’s family members was who had been ill, and the student caught her up. We walked a few more steps and the scene repeated itself about five times. I quickly realized that A) we probably were not going to eat, and B) that Professor Meek knew so many details about these students’ lives; they confided in her because they knew she cared, and they trusted her. In that moment, I knew that I wanted to know Professor Roberta Meek and learn how to be the type of educator students trust with not only their education, but also the more difficult details of their worlds. I wanted to be like her.”
Riley-Casey gave the closing remarks for the event, adding to the appraisal of Meek, saying, “She’s one of the few people who can go toe-to-toe with me. Roberta Meek is the professor students rate outstanding. She has advised hundreds of students and two student organizations: the Black Students Association and the Emerging Leaders. Her door is always open to hear students stories of uncertainty, triumphs and laughter. She co-created Muhlenberg College’s first civil rights alternative spring break immersion trip. There is so much more to Roberta Meek to include. She is an artist. She can sing and she says she can dance … Here’s to you, Roberta. Thank you for all that you do to support our students and your beloved community.”
“It is crucial that as we work to understand the oppression that has caused Black pain, we also celebrate Black joy — that as we try to prevent widespread, premature, and violent Black death, we celebrate the beauty of Black life.”
Zaire Carter ‘22, president of the Men of Color Network, accepted the Harlem Renaissance, Langston Hughes Award on behalf of Steven Smith. Carter said, “This is an event that happens every single year in February. It’s really a black history celebration. And I love that it’s not just for the campus, it’s for everyone. We get people from outside, within the Allentown community, I’m guessing even larger than that … I think it’s something that I love that Muhlenberg does every single year. It’s just a great place for the community … Because, you know, so many black and brown marginalized bodies on this campus feel that their voice can’t be heard and that they don’t have events that they can all go out to. But this is one of those events that every single year, without a doubt, you can show up and show out to.”
Kucik added, “The Black Excellence event was important for a multitude of reasons. It is always important to highlight the struggles that Black populations have been through — the violence that has been leveled against them and the trauma they have been forced to endure, but it is also important to emphasize the resilience of Black communities in the face of that violence and that trauma. It is crucial that as we work to understand the oppression that has caused Black pain, we also celebrate Black joy — that as we try to prevent widespread, premature, and violent Black death, we celebrate the beauty of Black life. Events such as Muhlenberg’s Black Excellence are a beautiful way to honor the laughter and triumph that is a central part of Black existence and to celebrate the work of people in our community who have done so much to make our lives richer and fuller.”
