February marks the start of Black History Month and with that comes the BSU showcase. Every year the Black Student Union here at OCSA holds a performance to showcase the culture and achievements of the black community. Their theme this year: Black Brilliance and Joy: Past, Present, and Future highlights the incredible black artists of the past and the upcoming artists of the future. This performance will be held in the cafeteria on Thursday, February 19 at 6:30pm for $10.

The show this year, however, will be slightly different from previous years with the inclusion of the annual BSU fashion show. The fashion show is typically held separately from the showcase however this year BSU is making the event even more special by making it a feature in the show. The theme of the fashion show focuses on R&B and album covers.

Adding to the celebratory nature of the BSU showcase, the club is also holding dress downs throughout the rest of the week. On Wednesday, students can dress up elegantly for free to highlight Black Excellence. On Friday, students can pay $2 to wear all black to represent unity and strength in honor of Black History Month. Both of these dress downs bring attention and celebrate the meaning of this month. BSU President Lola Ruiz stated that Black History Month “is a celebration, it is an opportunity to bring light on parts of history that many people may not know about.”

She hopes that the showcase will deeply impact the audience and highlight the resilience of everyone in the black community. She wants people, after watching the show to get the “message that the black community will continue to thrive and flourish.”