Students gathered for the Black Leadership Awareness and Culture Club’s (BLACC) potluck on November 19, enjoying a variety of foods that are often found in Black family homes during the holidays.
“I hope that when students come to the BLACC Potluck, they see a little bit about the culture of Black Americans and the Black diaspora in the US, and they learn about different foods, taste different foods, and spend time with each other,” KITS teacher and BLACC co-leader Jehan Giles said.
The food was provided by families of the school, allowing the students to share their Thanksgiving traditions with their friends and peers. Parts of the meal were also catered by Black owned businesses.
Students enjoyed food such as mac and cheese, turkey, candied yams, cornbread, and sweet potato pie. The serving of food specific to Black homes celebrated the culture and helped teach students about Black cooking. Along with the food came a sense of togetherness.
“The potluck helped me learn the importance of bringing our culture to Harvard-Westlake,” Naomi Rush ’29 said. “I really enjoyed seeing all my friends come together and eat food that we all love, and I’m really happy that everyone gets to enjoy a little soul food.”
During the weekly BLACC meeting that took place hours before the potluck, students wrote thank you cards to the faculty and staff members. Those who wrote letters were given tickets to the potluck, which granted them priority access to the potluck, allowing them to skip the long line. The letters reminded students of the importance of having gratitude for the people in their lives and showing their appreciation for them.
The potluck provided a safe space for students to bond and celebrate the rich traditions that Black families have. The event also instilled a stronger sense of connection and pride, displaying the power of shared tradition and community.
“It wasn’t just about the food,” Bella Hall ’29 said. “We also wrote really nice cards to the faculty and staff. I think the importance of community is really shown throughout this event.”
