Junior Beniot Rivera, left, and Freshman Garrett Allaman drink tea and eat banana pudding and red velvet cakes at the Diversi-Tea event Wednesday in Sunset Lounge in the Memorial Union.
Jolie Green/Leader
With a big bowl of banana pudding and small, red velvet cakes, students experienced a tasteful way to learn about African American culture at Diversi-Tea in Sunset Lounge today.
Diversi-Tea is a new happening on campus this semester. Besides this one, there has been one previous in January, and they will continue to happen monthly.
“They’re usually going to be based on the heritage months. Like in January there’s not a heritage, but we talked about mentoring. We talked about energizing your mentorship, so all of the foods and stuff were super foods,” said Amber White, Coordinator of Diversity Affairs and coordinator of the event.
“Tea in general was a program I got to do in grad school and I really enjoyed it. They were always based on the heritage months so that was something I wanted to continue to do. The students there really enjoyed it. I liked it.”
February is Black History Month, so the theme of February’s Diversi-Tea was black history. As attendees signed in, they were offered four informational articles tying back to black history. After signing in, everyone could eat as much of culture-rich foods as his or her heart desired. Banana pudding, red velvet cake, lemonade and various kinds of tea were offered.
“Red velvet cake and banana pudding are two staples in African American culture as far as desserts go, and I tried to base the tea on the same thing,” White said.
When White had teas in grad school, they were set up inside her office where students could come in and sit down to conversate.
“It was a way for me to get to know them better and I wanted to continue to do that here,” White said.
Diversi-Tea is set up as a come and go type event. Students can still take the same information without having to feel like they’ve committed to an hour-long event.
“I like it better. I know a lot of people are like, ‘Oh, I have class.’ It takes two seconds. Just pop by, grab something. It’s very noncommittal. Some people will sit down and talk to me for a little while, but not everybody has time to do that,” White said.
White said she also like the set up because if students aren’t interested in the educational pieces, they’re still experiencing a little bit of someone else’s culture from the food.
“So you’re learning in a passive way, and I appreciate any type of educational type thing. I feel like it’s not so in your face. It’s fun,” White said.
Recent Comments