MANSFIELD, Ohio – The aroma of fried chicken, black-eyed peas, and collard greens permeated the air in the Eisenhower cafeteria while close to 200 community members enjoyed good food, great entertainment and good company Thursday evening as The Ohio State University-Mansfield (OSU-M). The event conclued the Black History celebration with the annual Soul Food Dinner.
Renee Thompson, director of diversity and family engagement at OSU-M, welcomed the diverse crowd and spoke about the tradition and the act of breaking bread together.
“When we talk about breaking bread together it’s an act of thanksgiving and also an act of joint fellowship in terms of sharing and just really enjoying the blessings that God has given us,” she said.
The evening started with a digital media story of OSU-M Associate Professor Scopas Poggo, Ph.D., which tied into the month’s theme of, “The Story of Us.”
Poggo, originally from south Sudan, shared his story of growing up in a hardworking family where he and his young brothers and sisters had to walk two miles, while carrying a garden hoe on their shoulders, to cultivate the land for money.
Although Poggo’s parents did not have the opportunity to go to school he was afforded the opportunity by having his tuition and fees paid for by the government in Uganda.
“That was the happiest day of my life,” Poggo said in the digital story when his teacher awarded him a pencil for being her favorite student. “It deeply inspired me to be the best student in the class.”
The African-American and African Studies professor was the first in his tribe to earn a doctorate degree.
The dinner was catered by Gwen Butler of CMJ’s Catering and Concessions. Barbeque chicken, macaroni and cheese, potato salad, cornbread and an assortment of desserts, were also on the menu. And the speaker, the Rev. Walter Jordan II, pastor of Oasis of Love Church, provided a historical perspective of the tradition of soul food.
“Before it was coined soul food in 1964, it was coined good time food,” Jordan said. “The cuisine has features that go all the way back to Africa.”
Entertainment for the evening was rounded out with poem readings of Black authors Maya Angelou and Langston Hughes by Cheryl Carter, Director of Outreach and Recruitment, Urban Center at North Central State College.
Kristin Scott gave a moving rendition of “Amazing Grace,” while OSU-M student Chelsi Knight performed an inspiring interpretive dance to the late Whitney Houston song, “The Greatest Love of All.”
High school students Jasmine Gaddy and Brian Benson Jr. won an essay contest and both presented original speeches.
Gaddy, a St. Peter’s High School student, entitled her speech, “I Am”
“I am a powerful dreamer,” she said. “I wonder how Dr. King did it?…In my dreams I hear the cries for justice, the want for people to be judged by their character and not the color of their skin…In my dreams I live to see these changes so I guess it starts with me…”
During his speech, Benson, questioned the audience on if Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘dream’ has been fulfilled and if there is true equality for all people?
“I believe that Dr. King’s dream has been fulfilled partially,” the Mansfield Senior High School student said. “As a society, it seems like it’s okay to mistreat people of color as though they are not equal to others. I believe all Dr. King wanted is for everyone to be treated equally.”
The Area Agency on Aging, NC-State College, Richland County Foundation, WMFD-TV, North End Improvement Collaborative were sponsors of the event.
Twitter: @angelnichole222
