VSU’s black history celebration continued Tuesday night in the Bailey Science Center auditorium where Black Student League, NAACP, NPHC, and other organizations gathered for a panel discussion, which was meant to enforce the true meaning of the cause: unity and leadership.

The turnout, however, wasn’t as expected. The event, titled “Black in America: Leadership and Advocacy,” attracted only about 50 people.

“I would have liked to have seen more people there,” Demario Jones, SGA president and a senior political science major, said. “With all the collaboration of the organizations as well as the hard work put in by them, there should have been more people there.”

The event opened with a showing of a CNN “Black in America” clip which helped emphasize one of the important themes of the week: growth and progress as a people.

The mini-series inspired NAACP President DeAndre Jones to create the forum to inspire students to take leadership on campus.

Students felt enlightened,including one of the panelists.

“It shed light on a lot of areas that people weren’t generally familiar with,” Rachel Holley, junior exercise physiology major and one of the speakers on the panel, said. “It will help better ourselves and people as a whole.”

The event consisted of a panel of speakers each with an individual outlook on being black in America.

“I think it’s definitely necessary, many of us don’t know our history,” Brittany Ferguson, junior middle grades education major, said. “It’s great that the campus organizations provide programs like this to enlighten us about our past and inspire our future.”

The event provided several personal perspectives on what being African American means, and how lives can benefit from it.

Some of those who attended the event drew positive conclusions.

“I liked how it was organized, I thought the panel was very well informed, and helped clear up many social problems right now that society is facing,” Mandela Littleton, junior Spanish major, said.

Organizers said this event will hopefully persuade students to get more involved on campus.

“It was a good cause for all organizations to come together and do something beneficial for the campus,” Holley said.

On Wednesday night, a “Shades of Beauty” fashion show was hosted at the Student Union Ballroom, with around 200 people.

VSU’s black history celebration continues today with the university’s official Black History program in the Student Union Ballroom at 7 p.m. The keynote speaker will be Bishop Gregory Jackson and there will be a performance by the VSU Mass Choir.

On Friday, the celebration concludes with a Unity basketball tournament at the Student Rec. Center at 6 p.m., as well as a First Friday’s event at the R&B’s café in downtown Valdosta at 9 p.m. This event will have great food and live music.