Liturgical dancing, choir music, poetry and song were the main attractions during Concordia College’s Black History Month Program for students and staff Friday.

Sponsored by Concordia’s Student Government Association, the night not only recognized famous black leaders throughout history but also embraced the talents of students locally. The event’s keynote speaker, Civil rights activist and Selma native JoAnne Bland, also told her story of growing up in the movement.

Concordia president Dr. Tilahun Mendedo said the event was not only a time to “celebrate history” but to “make history.”

“This is a time and day we need to praise God for all the people who showed the way, fought the fight and paved the way,” Mendedo said. “Black History Month is not one month in a year but it’s always in your life. Every second, every minute, you make history.”

Bland, who was arrested several times during the movement and spent time in jail for fighting injustice, remembers wanting to have the “freedoms” her white counterparts did at a young age.

“Segregation was alive and well and we couldn’t do anything (inside the cell),” Bland said. “They did stuff to break our spirits … I grew up in a time different than you guys did, under the Jim Crow laws. People died so you can have these right and wear them arrogantly; we’ve come a long way but we’re still not where we need to be … everybody has a part (to play).”

Events coordinators Gwen Stewart and Jarah Botello, who worked on the event for a month, felt the program was essential to students.

“I think it’s extremely important because we have a lot of students that are not from here but to hear the story and to see the story of someone who’s lived it, it’s something they can take with them,” Stewart said.

Botello agrees and hopes the program, which is a first to be held in the evening, will only gain more support with each year.

“This should be the biggest program of the year,” Botello said. “The theme was ‘God Carrying Us Through History.’ The kids have so much talent; everything was original — original poetry (and) choreography. We’re hoping it can build every year.”

The college has put on events throughout the month of February, from a soul food menu to a Gospel explosion and the completion of a 54-mile challenge to commemorate the Selma-to-Montgomery March, planned for Tuesday.