Tyla Boone, Andy Ortiz and Elena Willoughby
LEYLA MERCADO/THE QUADRANGLE
By Leyla Mercado, Staff Writer
Black History Month at the Women and Gender Resource Center (WGRC) has become a time to not only share black voices but to embark on a series of events that allows them to do so continuously.
Although the WGRC intends to make sure minority voices are heard all year round, the faculty and interns in this space have made it their mission to place emphasis on becoming a symbol of advocacy for those who need it most.
According to manhattan.edu, the WGRC’s mission includes creating, “A community for women’s and gender groups to share space and solidarity in order to identify and work towards common goals…A safe and brave space that values each experience and viewpoint in pursuit of productivity, personal goals, dignity and self-respect.”
“The ‘It’s on Us’ movement, which is sponsored by WGRC, is planning a Red Table Talk with the Black Student Union,” member of the WGRC Elena Willoughby said. “It’s going to focus on the marginalization of black and brown women on campus. We’re also hosting a movie night on Feb. 27, where we’ll be showing Hidden Figures.”
Honoring the black community for their success is a form of recognition that’s essential to Black History Month, especially in the midst of contemporary challenges.
Through events that mainly target advocacy, the WGRC serves the purpose of shining a light on the voices that are rarely heard at Manhattan College. They’ve made it clear that Black History Month is not their only time to be open about individuals of color and their experience, but the commencement of a year-long discussion consisting of excitement and education.
“It means everything to me,” Tyla Boone, a member of the WGRC, said. “When regarding the creation of these events in an inclusive space that’s tailored to help other women of color while in a predominantly white institution…intersectionality sometimes gets lost in a space that doesn’t feel like it’s welcomed to people of color, that is why Black History is so important, and our voices in a center like this is so important because it opens up the door.”
Boone also explained the importance of these events for Black History Month, which opens doors to creating events and building opportunities for the black community at Manhattan College.
Andy Ortiz, another member of the WGRC, explained how by recognizing the matter at hand, the WGRC directs its works for Black History Month by seeing issues for what they are.
“A lot of people get ignored with the issues that they face and the injustices that they face because they’re not being looked at,” Ortiz said.
The WGRC strives to promote education and discussion of Black history throughout the semester, not just during the month of February.
“Giving events for Black History and talking about it is important, but not just in February, outside of February,” Boone said.
Students are encouraged to reach out to either interns, graduate assistants or one of the gender justice advocates at the WGRC if they have ideas for programs or clubs they would like the center to sponsor.