Huskies host Black Heritage Night basketball doubleheader
The Saint Mary's University Athletics department produced a night of celebration on Saturday, February 11th for its Black Heritage Night. The festivities took place at the women's and men's basketball games and showcased a range of cultural events and activities.
African Nova Scotian Flag displayed proudly at the Women's and Men's Basketball games on February 11th. Photo Credit: Nick Pearce
Fans were welcomed to the Homburg Centre with a banner display of Black stories from the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia. As they navigated the promenade, they were introduced to a vendor village. Vendors, all members of the Black Business Initiative, sold a variety of wares, educating fans on the properties of kelp products to the traditional pieces of African dress.
Alaina McMillan (Guard, SMU Huskies, Brantford, ON), and Mercy Olugu (Guard, DAL Tigers, Halifax, NS) are joined by Keisha Turner for the ceremonial tip-off to start the women's basketball game on February 11th. Photo Credit: Nick Pearce
As the games drew closer, impactful Black alumni were honoured with ceremonial tip-offs. Keisha Turner, a former varsity volleyball player & coach, entrepreneur, innovator, and philanthropist, was welcomed before the women's game. Keisha works to provide tangible solutions for leaders to address systemic racism and enact change in the workplace. This past year, Keisha established the 'Turner Bursary', a student bursary to be given to a Black or Indigenous woman at Saint Mary's interested in and/or pursuing entrepreneurship throughout their studies.
Jayrell Diggs (Guard, SMU Huskies, East Preston, NS), and Matthew Smith (Forward, DAL Tigers, Halifax, NS) are joined by Damon Cole for the ceremonial tip-off to start the men's basketball game on February 11th. Photo Credit: Nick Pearce
For the men's game, former basketball player and current coach, Damon Cole, was honoured. Damon made 3 CIS Finals appearances in his time with the Huskies, before moving on to be a Student Support worker with the Halifax Regional Centre for Education. He then returned to the Huskies in 2012 as a coach, helping the team to a 162-97 record with him on the bench.
Lyris Daye, actress and vocalist sings "Lift Every Voice" in front of a packed house prior to the Men's basketball game. Photo Credit: Nick Pearce
Before the games tipped-off, the Athletics department welcomed actress and vocalist, Lyris Daye, to sing "Lift Every Voice". Popularly known and used as the Black National Anthem, the melodic acapella rendition from Lyris could be felt by all in attendance. A hymn written in 1900 by James Wheldon Johnson, a writer and leader of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the song spread and became a national anthem for the Black community.
Sobaz Benjamin, and the Circle in the Square drummers entertain the crowd using their dunduns at half time of the Women's Basketball game. Photo Credit: Nick Pearce
At halftime, Sobaz Benjamin and the Circle in the Square drummers provided entertainment for the crowd to clap along to the rhythmic sounds from their traditional African drums, known as dunduns. The Circle in the Square is a group of youth who were formerly impacted by the criminal justice system and have found a path of change through music.
The inaugural celebration was an important event in the Athletic department calendar. Director of Athletics, Scott Gray, said of the event, "Black Heritage Night is a celebration of the rich cultural heritage of our local community. We were thrilled to have so many students, alumni, and wider community members able to experience the culture of our Black community and their impact on Canadian society."
The Athletics department thank all those involved with making this night a reality and hope to create an annual celebration of Black heritage and culture.
Bursary: https://www.smu.ca/blackstudent/student-supports-resources.html
Black Business Initiative: https://www.bbi.ca/
Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia: https://bccns.com/