Western's Black students celebrate legacy

February 26, 2023 at 5:00 a.m.

Zen Quashie, left, and Tima Deen dance Feb. 25 at the Black Student Coalition's Legacy Ball at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal. The Western Washington University group celebrated Black History Month. **(Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Daily News)**

Legacy Ball attendees take photos at the photo booth. **(Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Daily News)**

Black Student Coalition coordinator Nia Gipson speaks to students, faculty and community members about her work at Western with Black students. “When I think about legacy, I think about the work of our students,” she said. “I am constantly amazed by the way that you all show up for one another, the way that you all support each other, the way that you continue to create these spaces.” **(Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Daily News)**

Bellingham City Council member Kristina Michele Martens speaks to more than 100 Legacy Ball attendees in the keynote address. “Lean into what your vision of the future is because I’m pretty sure it is better than anything we are working on right now," she said. **(Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Daily News)**

Western student Djeneba Toure-Burke listens to Bellingham City Council member Kristina Michelle Martens speak. **(Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Daily News)**

Western students enjoy food and drinks. **(Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Daily News)**

Students serve up on rice, chicken, tofu and vegetables prepared by Calypso Kitchen — a catering company specializing in Caribbean flavors. **(Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Daily News)**

Legacy Ball attendees dance the wobble to "Wobble" by V.I.C. **(Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Daily News)**

More than 100 students, faculty and community members celebrated Black History Month Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Bellingham Ferry Terminal. Western Washington University's Black Student Coalition held the Legacy Ball for the first time since a hiatus began with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ball-goers enjoyed student and community speakers, reflecting on the legacy of the Black community at Western and in Bellingham.

"We need you if we’re going to build a different legacy for this area," said Kristina Michele Martens, the keynote speaker and Bellingham City Council member. "I can’t do this alone, and if we keep running from the legacy that was left, it will be the enduring one."

After the speakers and a dinner served by local caterer Calypso Kitchen, students danced, sang and laughed beneath the glass dome.

A previous version of this gallery misspelled Kristina Michele Marten's middle name in a photo caption. The gallery was updated on Feb. 28 at 4:35 p.m. to reflect this change. The Cascadia Daily News regrets this error.