By Lizmary Ortiz

“We matter.”

That is just one of the many impactful messages that the students at Rush could take from the African American Heritage Assembly that took place on Tuesday, February 13th, 2018. Every freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior had the opportunity to see the student-organized show, which was composed of artwork, student-made documentaries, vocal performances, dance routines, and spoken-word pieces. Solomon Sulonma performed his original song “When Will It All Just End,” Enny Akanbi demonstrated several traditional dance routines, and Zoie Hannibal did a rendition of Nina Simone’s “I’m Feeling Good.” While those were just a few of the many powerful performances from the assembly, each and every act had a resonating significance: “We are here, we matter, and we do not need to be ashamed of any part of ourselves.”

The assembly also had a special guest making an appearance. Reporter Nydia Han from 6ABC discussed the idea of racism in America with the audience and presented a recent video of hers that stirred controversy online: her “This Is America” speech. Ms. Han then requested the whole auditorium to announce that very statement in unison for a documentary she plans to develop in the near future.

At the end of the day, every student at Rush stepped out of the auditorium with a deeper understanding of African American culture and how the concept of race affects our daily life. It impacts the way we treat the people around us, the way the society treats us individually, and the way we perceive the person we see in the mirror. The African American Heritage Assembly highlighted this and then took the time to explain why it is that we matter. Needless to say, we already cannot wait until the next assembly. The student body truly stood united as they recognized and applauded African American culture.