The Black SC Family Reunion is USC’s way to celebrate the end of Black History Month. From 12 to 4 p.m. at Founders Park, the event was filled with food, music and lively people.
The theme was centered around empowering excellence, and celebrating Black history through the arts. The event offered support for Black owned businesses, by incorporating local vendors for their guests to enjoy.
Many USC alumni were found at the event, and we asked them what being Black at USC means to them, both now and then.
Bridget Smith received her master’s degree in 2022, and is now a program specialist for the USC Mann School of Pharmacy. She recounts that she has enjoyed the events held on campus and is excited to see more events for the Black community in the future.
Since this event was focused on empowering excellence, Smith spoke about what Black excellence means to her.
Bridget Smith: Black excellence means that you really dig deep and do the best you can all the time. Never allowing others to dictate what you can and can’t do. And allow yourself to be open. Allow yourself to be able to make mistakes, because that is truly how you grow. Then that shows real excellence that shows you coming out to being the person you are meant to be.
Nickey Woods is the Associate Dean for Student Affairs, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging at the USC Gould School of Law. She graduated with a doctorate from USC in 2015 and now has a son enrolled at the university! Woods has been able to see the Black community of faculty and students evolve over time.
Nickey Woods: There’s more activities and involvement and ways for the Black community at USC, to engage with one another. But not just engaged with each other, but just to bring in other folks too, that may not be a part of the African American diaspora to learn more about Black culture. So, it’s really wonderful to see.
Although Black History Month ends today, USC continues to provide resources for the Black community. Christal Young graduated the university in 2004 and is the current head of Leavey Library and Student Engagement. She believes in the importance of providing safe spaces for USC’s Black students.
Christal Young: The Center for Black Cultural and Student Affairs, which is located in the Student Union on the first floor. And it’s great, because we have more space there, there’s a room for a lot of events and workshops that students are able to check out.
Today’s event fostered a welcoming celebration of Black History Month, complete with a speech from Carol Folt, and plenty of hot dogs and games to go around. The alumni are proud to call themselves Trojans, and had positive things to say about the growth of the Black community here at USC.
Christal Young: I’m really proud to be a Black Trojan, and that will never change.
For Annenberg Media, I’m Katie Havens.