{"id":47244,"date":"2020-09-23T16:30:19","date_gmt":"2020-09-23T20:30:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=47244"},"modified":"2020-09-30T08:19:55","modified_gmt":"2020-09-30T12:19:55","slug":"black-student-alliance-hosts-dedication-ceremony-for-black-lives-matter-mural","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2020\/black-student-alliance-hosts-dedication-ceremony-for-black-lives-matter-mural\/","title":{"rendered":"Black Student Alliance hosts dedication ceremony for Black Lives Matter mural"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s how long senior Johnny Gabriel Prioleau III<\/strong> hopes the newest art at Eastern Mennonite University will last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prioleau, along with fellow members of EMU\u2019s Black Student Alliance, and honored guests Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed<\/strong>, Harrisonburg Interim Police Chief Gabriel Camacho <\/strong>and EMU President Susan Schultz Huxman<\/strong>, unveiled and dedicated an anti-racism mural on Monday evening in front of University Commons. The ceremony was hosted by Celeste R. Thomas<\/a><\/strong>, director of multicultural student services and senior adviser to the president for diversity and inclusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The massive street art, stretching 114 feet long, features the words \u201cBlack Lives Matter\u201d in bold yellow against a black background. The design echoes similar artwork that has appeared on city streets in New York, Seattle, Oakland, and Tulsa. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Black Lives Matter mural, painted in front of the University Commons at Eastern Mennonite University, was unveiled after words of dedication from Celeste Thomas, director of multicultural student services and senior adviser to the president for diversity and inclusion; Black Student Alliance co-presidents Jakiran Richardson and Merry Yirga; EMU President Susan Schultz Huxman; and Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed with Interim Police Chief Gabriel Camacho. (Photo by Rachel Holderman)<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cOne of the main goals,\u201d said BSA co-president Jakiran Richardson, <\/strong>\u201cis <\/strong>that the mural serve as a reminder that there\u2019s still work to be done to make \u2018Black Lives Matter\u2019 a true statement.\u201d He stated that BSA had two other goals with the artwork: \u201cto dispel misconceptions behind the movement\u201d and \u201cto represent a promise that EMU will do their part toward the struggle of our people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Huxman thanked BSA and its members \u201cfor leading the ways creatively and courageously on so many diverse initiatives at EMU.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat a beautiful day to rededicate ourselves to peace and justice, the values that are at the core of our community of learners,\u201d she said, quoting the Bible verse of Micah 6:8. \u201cWhat a beautiful day to stand in support and solidarity of EMU\u2019s BSA and Black Lives Matter, a movement that began seven years ago for non-violent civil disobedience in protest of racially motivated violence against black people…As we reflect on the message of this mural, may we be instructed to live more faithfully as a beloved community embracing the grand diversity of God\u2019s people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the police chief by her side, Reed, also a member of EMU\u2019s Board of Trustees, expressed pride at being a part of the event and said she wasn\u2019t surprised when she first heard that EMU students were at work on the mural. \u201cWe are so proud of our BSA students who had the courage to work on this,\u201d she said. \u201cWe know that EMU students are leaders and we know that you are our moral compass for the city…you lead the way\u2026I want you to know that you are standing on our ancestor\u2019s shoulders, that by you doing this, it is speaking for them, so always know that and honor that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed, with the city’s Interim Police Chief Gabriel Camacho, at the mural dedication. (Photo by Rebekah Budnikas)<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The brief ceremony, limited in size by the city\u2019s ordinance and physically distanced throughout the parking lot under university health protocols, included a processional of BSA members and supporters of BSA who assisted in the painting of the mural. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They moved to the side of the veiled artwork as Thomas read selected names of Black Americans killed unjustly. As the last notes of a famous protest anthem<\/a> sounded, BSA members drew tarps back to reveal the artwork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The mural has been in the works since the summer, but the actual creation began on Thursday and stretched through the weekend, with contributions from BSA\u2019s 40 members, the art and theater departments and affiliated students, and even attracting \u201cpeople just coming by, seeing what we were doing, and lending a hand if they wanted to,\u201d said co-president Merry Yirga<\/strong>. \u201cIt was really special.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Merry Yirga (left) and Jakiran Richardson, co-presidents of the Black Student Alliance at Eastern Mennonite University, speak at Monday’s dedication ceremony. (Photo by Rebekah Budnikas)<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Yirga said the location of the mural, in a fire lane in front of University Commons, was significant. The building is a focal point, Yirga said, whether for visitors coming to campus for the first time or for students.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou are not going to miss this,\u201d she said. \u201cThis does make a statement … This location says that not only does EMU stand with us but they\u2019re going to make sure people see it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yirga called the mural \u201ca huge step for EMU.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s making this huge statement but years down the line, so many things will change. More Black students will come to EMU…I think it\u2019s difficult for a predominantly white institution like EMU to make it feel like home to Black students and I think that\u2019s what this does,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EMU still has work to do, both BSA co-presidents said. The mural project came as a reaction to the loss of the Royal Treatment Barbershop, a lounge and hair salon on campus managed by BSA. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This summer, Dean of Students Shannon Dycus<\/strong> shared with BSA members that the Barbershop\u2019s small size only allowed for a one-person occupancy, based on physical distancing requirements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The students were upset at the prospect of losing \u201cour space, a popular place and a fan favorite, not just for black students,\u201d Yirga said, but ultimately agreed to offer the space as an on-campus COVID-19 testing site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This decision sparked further discussion about the lack of space, said Dycus. \u201cWe talked about other ways students could show up around campus, celebrating their identity and voice.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe wanted to use the opportunity to make some changes and implement a more inclusive culture here at EMU,\u201d Yirga said. \u201cAnd that brings us to where we are today.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Forever. That\u2019s how long senior Johnny Gabriel Prioleau III hopes the newest art at Eastern Mennonite University will last. Prioleau, along with fellow members of EMU\u2019s Black Student Alliance, and ... read more about Black Student Alliance hosts dedication ceremony for Black Lives Matter mural<\/span><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":47248,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7931,14184,14715,4513],"tags":[16275,17520],"feature":[17427,17241],"class_list":["post-47244","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts","category-campus-guests","category-campus-life","category-student-life","tag-celeste-thomas","tag-susan-schultz-huxman","feature-emu-home-page-feature","feature-news-feature"],"yoast_head":"\nBlack Student Alliance hosts dedication ceremony for Black Lives Matter mural - EMU News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2020\/black-student-alliance-hosts-dedication-ceremony-for-black-lives-matter-mural\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Black Student Alliance hosts dedication ceremony for Black Lives Matter mural - EMU News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Forever. 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