Word on the Street calls out conflicts in Black culture at Ohio State

Brandon Britt explains the concept of Word on the Street to participants in the Ohio Union on Feb. 27.| Credit Chantal Brown

By Chantal Brown

In a jubilee-style discussion, students were asked to give their stance on influences and practices in Black culture Monday as a part of Ohio State’s 45th annual African American Heritage Festival. 

Three rounds of topics ranging from soul food to intersectionality were discussed between 10 participants alternating between over 30 other audience members and faculty moderator, Brandon Britt.  The goal of the event format was to encourage more audience participation than in previous years. 

Amanda Belmar, a fourth-year in public management and psychology, served as chair of the committee that planned the event. Belmar said she aimed for the event to highlight how, as a community, Black people are unified but occupy spaces in different ways.

“Usually in other Word on the Street events, it’s a lot of being talked at. I wanted this year to be audience engagement. I wanted students to feel like they could be leading the conversation,” Belmar said. “There wasn’t too much from me or Brandon. Everyone got to speak than in previous years which I really like.”

Each round was associated with a specific theme which included: generations, intersections, and diaspora. Participants were read a phrase by the moderator. After the phrase was read, they had to choose between five labeled lines of tape to stand on; strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree, and strongly disagree. 

Preshious Glover, a third-year in African American studies, said that she had to carefully consider how she responded to some of the topics. 

“It was very eye-opening seeing different people’s sides; people who agreed with you and who didn’t,” Glover said. “The conflict was even good. Even if it was like you got a little high in tension, it was still good conflict like it was still very effective,” Glover said.

Glover said she found comfort during the discussion in Britt’s ability to be transparent with the participants and the audience regardless of his status as program manager of the Young Scholars Program within the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. 

“Even Brandon with him being a part of ODI, and having leadership, he took a lot of things from that within himself to make the programs better,” Glover said.