MASQUERADE

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Wise’s introduction explained how she loves being a Black woman and how growing up she found herself questioning who she is as a Black woman. Her social justice movement was about understanding Dr. Umar’s school and how it is the beginning for Black people to build a community of their own as a way of uplifting each other and coming together. The school is designed as an institue for Black students to be taught by Black teachers and learning about their heritage.

Seales began his speech by explaining the meaning behind his name and what he represents as an individual. The social movement he represents is prison reform. Based on his own personal experience in the prison system, Seales showed passion throughout his introduction and explained what the system not only did to him but the people around him.

“Along this journey, I’ve seen a lot of people that I’ve grown up with, people happened to me in the past,” AsantentewaaMensah said. Asantentewaa-Mensah said she wants to use her brand to “uplift people in regards to their mental health through words or slang that people can relate to.”

Sante is one of the many brands in the summit that created their line for more than just fashion. Each creator has a message behind their work and is using their brand to promote awareness of their cause.

Fashion isn’t the only that I look up to and people that I represent be imprisoned and be lost amongst themselves, whether it be to prison or the system,” Seales said. “So, tonight I’m running for Mr. BSU, but tonight I want to represent win, lose or draw. I want to spread the message of the reform of Black imprisonment, especially of Black men.”

Abdallah’s social movement was the systemic inequity of African Americans being under-treated for pain in the medical system. She began her introduction by telling a story of how a patient had to beg for treatment because some doctors thought she was exaggerating her pain and it ended up being a serious medical issue.

After each contestant gave their introduction, the first four returned with three questions to be answered geared toward what being a Black person means to them and why they chose the inspirational role model they did. Following this, the second group of contestants returned to do the same.

Afterward, there was a brief intermission followed by a spoken word performance by poet Fanta Ballo and D’Pulpit accompanying on the piano. Ballo started out in the thing young Black business owners on campus can create. Content creator Jesujuwon Odeyemi, DatGuyJ, attended the summit to promote his YouTube channel. His YouTube channel focuses on street interviews where he goes around Plattsburgh and New York City asking random people questions on whatever topic he has for that video. His humorous approach makes it hard not to be entertained by some of his outrageous questions.

Also included in the summit was hairstylist Jakira Barrett. Barrett runs a hair braiding business called Jenuine Beauti for Black men and women by providing services of braids, locs and cornrows.

The goal of her business is to help support the BIPOC community in Plattsburgh, being one of the few hair braiders on campus.

The event had a successful turnout, to say the least. Each small Black business owner involved came together to put on an amazing summit and all brands should definitely back of the room before making her way to the front, being sure to make eye contact with the audience as she went. As she spoke, she used her hands to mimic her feelings and represent a connection not only with her words, but with the audience. Ballo’s words and heart was shown on the stage in many ways. The audience seemed captivated by her love poem.

The talent portion of the fashion show created a strong reaction from the audience. People cheered for their friends more than they ate the food that was presented to them.

Nicholas, Bamba and Johnson did dance routines. Gaines did a spoken word piece about Trayvon Martin. Abdallah lip synched a skit about learning where Black features originate from and what they represent. Wise read a poem she wrote called “courage”. Owusu-Poku sang two songs and Seales rapped to a song that kept him going while he was incarcerated, accompanied by D’Pulpit’s piano playing.

While each performance was special in their own way, three of them had a more powerful impact. Owusu-Poku’s voice was heard so clearly and efficiently, and see numbers in their next drops. The biggest takeaway could be not that there are so many businesses around campus, but the fact that there are these creative people that are sitting right next to you in class. More should definitely be in store following the success of the summit and keep an eye out for these creative brands for the future.

Email JEREMY BINNING cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

everyone gravitated toward her. Nicholas’ routine was crisp, clear and he kept his and the audience’s energy up throughout his performance. Seales’ performance was powerful from the way he dressed to his animated speech. He wore an orange jumpsuit and shed tears as the words really connected with him.

While the judges left the room to deliberate their choice, the audience was instructed to vote for their favorites on a Google form. During this there was a performance by High Voltage, which didn’t receive much reaction from the crowd.

The results were in: Nicholas became Mr. BSU and Owusu-Pokubecame Mrs. BSU.

The runners-up were Wise and Seales. The two fan favorites from the voting polls were Seales and Owusu-Poku.

After the winners were announced, Nicholas’ and Owusu-Poku’s mentors were welcomed to the stage to say how it was working with the contestants and thank everyone for showing their support.

Email KIYANNA NOEL