BSU Takes MMA on a Journey through the Arts

On February 29, 2024, Merion Mercy Academy closed out Black History Month with the celebrated talents of its Black Student Union. With the theme “Black Entertainment: Showcasing Our Journey through the Arts,” the BSU’s 44 performers delivered song, dance, poetry, art and more to a rapt audience. 

Beginning with an introduction to fashion icons and designers Telfar Clemens, Beverly Johnson and Dapper Dan, the girls presented a fashion show highlighting styles through the decades. Literature and art followed, highlighting the contributions of author Octavia Butler, sculptor Edmonia Lewis, and poet James Weldon Johnson who penned “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” The BSU then performed Johnson’s work, which has become known as the Black national anthem, complete with accompanying sign language. At the end of the showcase, Head of School Marianne Grace had the entire student body join in the song. 

This historical journey through the arts also introduced Black actors in television and film including Dorothy Dandridge, Sidney Poitier and Denzel Washington. They were followed by musical icons Tina Turner, Mary J. Blige, Whitney Houston and Lauryn Hill, after which the BSU delivered a rousing hip hop performance. 

The showcase ended with an introduction to the BSU executive board and shout outs to faculty and staff who contributed to the day’s success. BSU mentors Carol Restifo, English Teacher, and Maya Johnson ‘12, Director of Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, and Belonging, received a standing ovation from the appreciative crowd. This was BSU’s sixth year as a Merion Mercy organization and its sixth Black History Month showcase.