The Lambda Xi Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. hosted an annual celebration of cultural diversity at UC Davis
By MEGAN PUSL — campus@theaggie.org
On Feb. 18, the Lambda Xi Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. on campus hosted the Multicultural Extravaganza. The event showcased the many cultures present at UC Davis through performances, including song and dance.
The Lambda Xi Chapter sorority hosts this event annually at UC Davis, continuing a Davis tradition that dates back to 1922, according to the program. The Lambda Xi Chapter was chartered on May 24,1974 as a chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority, a Black Greek-letter organization, according to their website.
The President of the Lambda Xi Chapter, Korley Reese, opened the event by sharing the importance of celebrating cultural diversity.
“The reason why we have this program is to incorporate diversity and cultural awareness at UC Davis,” Reese said. “We do this through performance, through art, through dance [and] through song because it’s important, […] especially in today’s time when diversity, equity and inclusion [are] being limited in certain spaces.”
The hosts of the show were members of the Lambda Xi Chapter, Alexis Muthoga, a fourth-year African American and African studies major, and Claire Ekwedike, a fourth-year managerial economics major.
February was deemed Black History Month in 1976 and represents a time dedicated to honoring and celebrating the history, culture and contributions of African Americans in the United States.
UC Davis is committed to celebrating black excellence, resilience and the impact of the Black community during the many events of Black Futures Month on campus, according to the UC Davis Black Futures Month website.
Black Futures Month represents a collective vision for the future of the Black community on campus and on a wider scale, according to their website. The events during Black Futures Month serve to honor Black history and enhance the visibility of the many contributions of African/African American/Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Latinx/Afro/Black Diasporic peoples. Black Futures Month is co-hosted by the Women’s Resources and Research Center, the Cross Cultural Center and the LGBTQIA+ Resource Center.
Lolita Adkins, the undergraduate research and administrative director at UC Davis, guided the audience in standing up for the Black National Anthem called “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
“If you do not not know the Black National Anthem, I [want to] challenge you to learn at least the first verse,” Adkins said. “It is something that everyone should know.”
The student performers at the event included Afrovibes, Bakuhatsu Taiko Dan, Lady Mustangs Majorette, Reach Justice, Danzantes del Alma and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
Reese emphasized the importance of this multicultural event in celebrating the many cultures at UC Davis.
“We find it necessary to keep these traditions alive in our community, and we are so excited to have this event tonight and all the performers worked really, really hard,” Reese said. “We all worked hard to put this event together.”
To find out more about Black Futures Month at UC Davis, visit the UC Davis Diversity, Equity and Inclusion website. The last of the events include the Isidore String Quartet, Let’s Link Up, Lights, Culture, Action!, After Hours Movie Night and Paint and Sip.
Written by: Megan Pusl — campus@theaggie.org
