The Bradley University Speech Team put on its second annual Black History showcase on February 27. Several team members used humor, drama and poetry to talk about various issues relating to Black History and race relations. Below the story is a timeline about the origins of Black History Month, along with current racial issues like Ferguson and the Oscars presentation of “Glory.” This provides additional context to the issues talked about during the event.  

Bradley Speech Team shines spotlight on Black History

By Bahnt Freiberger

Bradley University’s Speech Team sent Black History Month out in style at 7 p.m. last Friday in room 126 of the Global Communications Center. This was the Speech Team’s second annual Black History Showcase event, and was open to the public for $5 and Bradley students for $3. The team talked about various racial issues ranging from Martin Luther King to Ferguson, using a unique combination of poetry, humor and dramatic stories.

Senior sports communication majors Kitrina Baumgartner and Amanda Philio opened and closed the event, introducing each speaker throughout the show.

One of the show’s strongest pieces was its last, coming from sophomore public relations and sociology major Jerome Gregory. Gregory used humor to talk about how Millennials view racism, lampooning Allan West’s race war concept. Amid the audience’s laughter, Gregory spoke of how Millennials think racism will disappear if they don’t talk about it. Gregory argues racism should be talked about, but also to be careful of how it’s mentioned.

“Talk about racism without being a jerk,” Gregory said.

The event’s opening act went to junior public relations major Brandon Johnson. Johnson related a lawyer’s story of growing up learning how police victimize black children.

“Are we teaching our children to live in fear, or are we educating them?” Johnson said, asking how black children are taught to interact with police. Johnson ended the lawyer’s story talking about how he teaches his son not to fear the law.

Off this opening act, Speech Team President Talan Tyminski went deeper into the Ferguson case. Tyminski approached the subject analytically, saying that the Ferguson Police Department’s refusal to publicly release Officer Darren Wilson’s identity led to the public creating its own story.

Tyminski argued that the riots were caused by a breakdown in effective communication. She went on to talk about how Millennials’ distrust of law enforcement forces police to get defensive, only worsening the situation.

Senior organizational communications major Brian Banuelos chose to talk about the power of names. Through poetry, Banuelos spoke about certain names showing power and looking better on resumes. Ethnic names rarely have this power, but Banuelos urged the audience to take pride in their names’ uniqueness.

Instead of poetry, sophomore Abby Surprenant used an impromptu speech to talk about race relations. Surprenant spoke of the power of emotion in decision-making.

Above photo: Bradley Speech Team member Abby Surprenant preparing her impromptu speech at the Black History showcase

“Emotional choices determine outcomes,” Surprenant said, explaining that our outlook influences our goals while emotional impulses lead to irrational decisions. The entire speech was based on a quote given to her only minutes beforehand.

The quote was an iconic statement by Dr. Martin Luther King: “I’ve decided to stick to love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” King’s words continue to inspire even decades later, as Black History Month is celebrated across the country.

A Timeline of Black History Month, and Recent Race Relations

This timeline details the origins of what we now know as Black History Month. Following these origins are two current events that detail modern day race issues, to show the trials and progress of race relations in the present.  The information on the timeline is attributed to several sources. These include YouTube, Salon.com, CNN.com, blackpast.org, history.com, and encyclopedia.jrank.org. Links to these websites are found in the events on the timeline. The timeline is meant to provide more context to Black History Month and the current race issues talked about during the Speech Team’s showcase.