King’s College Holds First-Ever Unity Showcase for Black History Month

The King’s College community came together to celebrate the end of Black History Month with the first-ever Unity Showcase on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. Hosted by the Black Student Union (BSU) and King’s College Theatre, the event took place at Maffei Theater in the Mulligan Building. The event brought together students, faculty, and community members for a night of unforgettable performances honoring black history, culture, and artistry.

Director of the Multicultural and International Student Programs, Jasmine Giddings, gave a warm greeting to kick off the event. The tone of the evening was then set by the Black Students Union's sharing of inspirational quotes from black leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Barack Obama, and Malcolm X. The King's Theatre then performed The Mountaintop, a play that depicted Dr. King's last hours and served as a reminder the importance of justice, resiliency, and progress.

Musical performances kept the energy high throughout the night with a piano solo, vocal performance accompanied by ASL interpretation, and an original rap piece by Caleb Cruz, Class of 2027. Cruz shares his experience as a performer at the event:

“I think the most valuable quality of the event was the unity displayed by all the acts and crew members towards each other. We all really came together to support and hold each other up, and you could really feel the love between all of us; especially towards the end with everyone celebrating together.”

Other performances included spoken word poetry and dance. The Monarch Dancers and the Monarchs in Motion step team delivered high-energy routines, while poetry and spoken word pieces resonated with the audience. The excitement was increased by live music from the Jimmy Gee Band and special guests from Mt. Zion Baptist Church, including their Gospel Choir and Mime Ministry.

The show’s emcee, Ahmad Griffin, Class of 2025, kept the momentum going between performances. As one of the event’s organizers, he reflected on the vision behind Unity:

“We created this event to foster a sense of community and build a platform for students and any outside artists within the King’s community. Celebrating black history, through the rhythm of our voices, the movement of our bodies, and the power of our words. This brought together Unity and we wanted that message to be conveyed through this showcase.”

This inaugural event was an outstanding success, bringing the community together to display talents and show appreciation for black culture. A huge thank you goes to all the performers, organizers, and attendees who made this historic night possible.