Student Committee for Diversity and Inclusion Hosts Movie Event

Students met together on Feb. 18 to watch “12 Years a Slave.” The movie event was put on by the Student Committee for Diversity and Inclusion. Photo by Sonja Brandt.

by Hayden Rensner

Concordia students gathered Monday evening in the Cattle Conference Room to watch the movie “12 Years a Slave” which portrays the life of a man who was unexpectedly sold into slavery during the years leading up to the Civil War.

The movie was put on by the Student Committee for Diversity and Inclusion. The committee’s academic advisor Von Thomas, multicultural program specialist and assistant director of student life, was present during the movie, and also provided the students with refreshments. The overall goal of showing the movie was to make students aware of the reality of slavery in a positive and non-threatening atmosphere.

“Black history has kind of taken the backseat nationwide. Showing this movie gives students the chance to watch history–it keeps it alive, but we try to not do it in a negative way. It makes people aware of far how far we have come in our nation alone,” Thomas said.

Students who attended the movie event were amazed by how it brought the issue of slavery alive to them.

“It’s a really good movie. I think they were really able to humanize the slaves in a way that history books aren’t typically able to,” sophomore Malia Ebel said.

The movie left students with a new perspective and a lot to think about as they reflect upon our nation’s rich history.

“It’s historically accurate and it does show pretty well the life of a slave,” junior Jonathan Kisker said.