By Cecil Egbele | Contributing Writer | California Local News Fellow

The rhythm of West African drums echoed through Bakersfield College’s Renegade Event Center as students, faculty, and community members gathered for the eighth annual Black History Month celebration hosted by Umoja Community.

This year’s theme, Living Your Black Excellence, set the tone for an afternoon of reflection, cultural pride, and personal testimony. Through a dynamic panel discussion, ancestral rituals, a lesson on mentorship, and electrifying performances, the program challenged attendees to see excellence not as a destination but as a daily commitment. The message was clear: excellence is not perfection. It is resilience.

A Decision to Walk in Excellence

The panel discussion was the emotional and intellectual heart of the afternoon. Panelists shared personal journeys of overcoming barriers and emphasized community uplift.

Artisa Mae Moten, a licensed marriage and family therapist and founder of A Waking Consulting Group, told students that excellence begins with belief.

“Everything about you is excellent. Point blank. Period,” she said. “It’s not about finding your excellence. It’s already in you.”

Moten, who grew up in the foster care system and aged out without a permanent placement, credited mentors with changing the trajectory of her life. She recalled an eighth-grade teacher who stayed after school to help her improve her reading level — a small but transformative act of investment. She survived homelessness as a single mother and a profound mental health crisis before her breakthrough. “Excellence under pressure is not excellence,” she told the room. “You have to re-imagine yourself. You have to realign yourself. But one of the things you cannot do is give up.”

Akadius Ashby, an educator and doctoral student at Pepperdine University, shared his unconventional journey from aspiring Division I athlete to, soon, the first doctor in his family. He faced academic dismissal and displacement by Hurricane Katrina before working as a firefighter while paying his own tuition to graduate. He challenged students to do the work of self-discovery.

“In order to find your Black excellence, you first got to find yourself,” he said. “You can plan and prep all you want. But sometimes it’s not in the cards. That doesn’t mean we give up. We pick ourselves back up and get back on that path.”

Honoring Dr. Joseph L. White

A standout segment of the program was a presentation honoring the legacy of Dr. Joseph L. White, widely known as the “Godfather of Black Psychology.” White built a psychology rooted in the lived experience of Black people, challenging a field that had long used White male developmental norms as a universal standard.

His legacy was illustrated through the metaphor of an open door. Through an interactive demonstration, volunteers physically opened doors for others to walk through, representing how White mentored future college presidents and leaders – including his daughter Laurie White, who became the first director of the Cross-Cultural Center at UC Irvine, and others who went on to lead institutions, including Cal State Bakersfield.

“If somebody opens the door for you,” said Dr. Paula Parks, Umoja Community ASTEP Co-ordinator, who led the presentation, “you say thank you by doing your best.”

The exercise underscored a core principle: excellence is communal. It expands when individuals use their success to open pathways for others.

Rituals of Remembrance

The program also honored African ancestors and other beloved departed through a libation ritual led by Dr. Parks. Figures such as Zora Neale Hurston, Ida B. Wells, Carter G. Woodson – the father of Black History Month – and Maya Angelou were praised and invoked by name. Personal family members were honored as well.

“They say you don’t truly die until people stop saying your name,” Parks said, inviting the audience to call out the names of their own beloved departed. The ritual was conducted as a call and response, with the audience answering “Ashe” – a West African expression meaning “Amen” – after each name.

Rhythm, Balance and Joy

A roll of African drums announced the arrival of Burkina Faso-born master drummer Dramane Kone and his ensemble. Kone, who has been playing music since age 3 and brings more than four decades of craft to the stage, invited the audience to clap and sway, turning the performance into a communal celebration. “African dance has a rich culture,” he said. “It makes people happy. It is healing. It pulls people in.”

The cultural showcase continued with a lively juggling performance by America’s Got Talent star Helen “The Foot Juggler” and NBA halftime show act and bounce juggler Tersit Dersu. Their precision and artistry drew gasps and applause and served as a tangible demonstration of excellence in motion.

Helen, who performs wearing braids and beads, said the choice is deliberate. “I’m not only bringing you the talent,” she said. “I’m bringing the hair they told me wasn’t good enough.”

As the eighth annual celebration concluded, Dr. Parks offered a final reminder to carry beyond the auditorium: Black History Month may be in February, but Black excellence is every day.