“Lights, Camera, Capstone” was the Black Student Union’s (BSU) tribute to Black film, culture and creativity.
The annual fashion show — hosted Saturday at Forbes Theatre — brought celebration and cultural storytelling in a high-energy production, bringing attention to the underrepresentation of Black stories in media.
“We belong in any and every space,” said BSU Secretary Kayla Greenidge.
The show featured seven designers across four segments. Models followed the soft tone of the choir during the ‘Romance’ opener. Fitted vests, wide belts and Western-styled boots dominated the second segment, ‘Western.’ The third part, ‘Queer,’ shifted energy with vibrant colors and expressive styling in a homage to ballroom culture: an underground world where Black and LGBTQ+ youth walk their own runway in defiance of historical systemic oppression and exclusion from white-dominated pageants. Last but not least, ‘Sci-fi’ shifted the atmosphere into neon and edgier outfits — a bold visual clash that created a darker, theatrical energy.
Between segments, performances from UB Caribbean and hip-hop dance team Crossfyah, and step group Step Troupe, energized the crowd. Crossfyah moved the crowd with an emotional sci-fi themed routine as Step Troupe brought powerful energy to the theater. 8 Count finished off the show with high-energy hip-hop in a tribute to Michael Jackson.
Uchenna Obumneme-Akaneme, a model, says the event carries deep cultural significance.
“It really showcases Black excellence. Black designers, Black students, Black models–coming all together to just showcase to the world what we’re made of,” Obumneme-Akaneme, a senior public health major, said. “Genres, movies, TV — it all comes from the culture or the blueprint of Black excellence.”
It was the community that brought Lucas Gist to modeling in Black Explosion.
“I chose to model for BSU because I have high engagement with the Black Student Union, and I love to support people who look like me,” Gist, a sophomore political science major, said. “Black is beautiful, and you can be whoever you are and whatever you want to be.”
The night is a way to celebrate Black culture, reminding the campus community of its ongoing influence and the need to preserve Black storytelling, the show’s organizers say.
“Film is important. It’s crucial to our generation, because we are losing media by the day,” BSU Publicity Coordinator Janeeta Ashimi said. “We are losing theaters, we’re losing books, TV shows. So giving this platform to express and give homage to people who have created before us is a blessing, and I’m grateful to have been a part of this production.”
The arts desk can be reached at arts@ubspectrum.com.
