The Baltimore School for the Arts Black Student Union is actually one of the first clubs at BSA. So, our showcase is a big deal to everyone involved and the greater BSA community. It exemplifies Black excellence, resilience, and creativity — Black people’s unwavering belief in self-worth, insistence on equitable treatment, and rejection of any narrative that diminishes our value. This is shown in the sounds of our voices, the words we write, our instruments, our brushstrokes, the rhythm in our bodies, and most importantly, our joy. The greatest thing to me about our showcase is having the ability to exist in the beauty of our Blackness in its full totality — that in of itself is a form of protest.
This year, I had the pleasure of taking on a leadership role in the Black Student Union, so I got to see and participate in the inner workings of creating and running a show. As a visual artist, there was a huge learning curve, but luckily, I was surrounded by an amazing support system.
One of the biggest things I learned is that you can never please everyone — and you should never try to. Instead, you should strive for greatness.
All in all, it was hard work and full of sacrifices, but in the end, it was so fulfilling to see how proud everyone was of themselves and their culture. And in times like this, that is so important. Because in the end, the revolution sometimes has to be televised — and it’s our generation that has to do it. (Phoenix Barber, senior at Baltimore School for the Arts)
These photos are from the 2025 Black History Month Showcase at Baltimore School for the Arts. The performances took place on Friday, February 7, and this year’s showcase theme was Roots: Connecting with our Ancestors & Culture.
Photos by Lotus Partlow, junior at Baltimore School for the Arts
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