In honor of Black History Month, Full Sail University’s Black Student Union recently held an open mic and jazz night on the patio, bringing together the local community for an exciting night of live performances, trivia, and dancing. The Black Student Union promotes diversity, inclusion, and opportunities for Black Full Sail students and graduates, connecting them with industry professionals, advocating against discrimination, and providing opportunities for students to be connected with and immersed in culture through events such as this one and their Juneteenth celebration. Led by a live DJ and members of the BSU, performers of all kinds came together to share their talents, and, like all BSU events, the night was open to all Full Sail staff and students, many of whom came out to enjoy the evening.

The acts ranged from original songs and saxophone solos to raps and spoken word poems, all of which were performed in front of a large, enthusiastic crowd. The audience cheered on as artists bared their souls and bravely shared their creativity with the community. Each performance was followed by a quick round of trivia, highlighting Black inventors, artists, and innovations throughout history, and correct answers were awarded Full Sail merchandise as prizes. After a few rounds of performances, the live DJ played a medley of classics, bringing the entire crowd out onto the dance floor. Members of the Black Student Union joined in on the fun and also facilitated the planning and coordinating of the event with help from Full Sail’s Student Community Association. Together, the two organizations assisted performers with their microphones, handing out prizes to trivia winners, and even leading the crowd in dance numbers.

“Both the Black Student Union and Student Community Association aim to foster cultural enlightenment, unity, and inspiration among all Full Sail Students,” said Kincie Farnell, a BSU staff advisor who emceed the event. Following our conversation, Kincie took to the dance floor, where she and the crowd passionately sang their hearts out.