The Griffon News

Missouri Western’s CME put on a classic “Soul Food” dinner last Wednesday in accordance with African American Heritage and History month.

Students could order culinary delights from the menu such as fried catfish, southern-style spare ribs, collared greens, black-eyed peas and corn bread.

“I wanted more awareness with the students – students of all colors,” said Ivory Duncan , the Western senior who was responsible for bringing the dinner together .

“The dinner – I know it seems cliché with the menu, but it was the only way I could connect the dinner with the heritage of back in the days when we put together these foods to eat, to celebrate our culture.”

At the entrance of the cafeteria there was a power point slide show that displayed scenes from the heritage of the African American people.

Black-and-white images flashed across the screen of signs in windows of shops with platitudes labeled “no coloreds allowed,” along with profiles of various heroes of the civil rights movement, as students rounded the corner of Eder hall and strolled through the doors toward dinner.

Even students who did not have access to a meal plan were welcome to stop by and have a traditional African American meal.

“The Students for Multicultural Education are paying for the students who don’t have a meal plan, and ARAMARK is paying for the students with meal plans,” Duncan said.

Junior Michelle Allen partook of the traditional down-home cooking. She also offered a reason why the dinner was a good idea.

“Being that the school is predominately white, I think it shows a little bit about what African American heritage is.” Allen said. “This is how we eat; this is our culture.”

And junior Chris Koone, who was eating the southern-style spare ribs, spoke to his table about the idea of many more multicultural events.

“I thought this was cool,” Koone said. “It would be cooler if we also had other heritage months instead of just black heritage.”

Several students were oblivious to the theme of the evening. Senior John Miller was appreciative of the event, although surprised by it.

“I didn’t know it was a special dinner,” Miller said. “It’s cool, though.”