On Saturday evening, the Brandeis Black Student Organization (BBSO) hosted a night characterized by entertainment, emotion, humor and pride. BBSO's "Blackout" event opened with comments by BBSO co-presidents Justin Moore '03 and Shalwah Evans '05, whose enthusiasm never waned and enhanced the enthusiasm expressed by the eager crowd. The flourescent lights matched the excitement that was present in the Carl J. Shapiro auditorium.In his opening comments, Moore explained how the event got its name. A blackout, just like cultural heritage and pride, is something that controls you. "You don't control it. It's definitely unpredictable."

Unpredictable is a good way to describe the night that was filled with a wide range of emotion from talented Brandeis students. The blackout that bathed the auditorium after these opening remarks silenced the crowd and created an eerie -- and amazingly intimate -- atmosphere. The spell did not break throughout the entire show.

The performers in BBSO's "Blackout" event all exemplified the caliber of talent that students at Brandeis possess. Some performances were particularly poignant. Tamyra Meaders' '03 rendition of India Arie's romantic ballad, "I am Ready for Love," put the audience to awe with its expressive beauty.

Tara Mathis '03 delivered an emotion-driven performance of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" while profiles of influential black leaders were shown on a projection screen behind her. Justin Silvey's '03 violin performance was also especially notable. Silvey possesses impressive technical skill, but it was his intuitive musicianship that made his performance Saturday evening so exceptional.

Not all of the events of the evening were as emotional as these musical performances. BBSO also brought laughter to Brandeis through such light-hearted acts as a step showdown, an amateur night with an "American Idol"-reject named Gold Toofus and an infamous rap battle. Interspersed throughout these acts were poetry readings and other musical performances that highlighted the depth of Brandeis talent. BBSO provided a very effective balance of light entertainment mixed with thought-provoking, artistic and expressive performances.

The "Blackout," however, was much more than students showing off their individual skills. What made the evening notable was not the humorous skits, the musical performances or the impressive technical effects. The "Blackout" was remarkable for its infusion of black pride, black unity and black talent. The final skit, "Evolution," illuminated this point by emphasizing many of the driving forces behind Black History Month -- pride, self-esteem and discovery. The narrative skit focused on the strength and dignity of the black community. It was this pride and unity that held all the performances of the evening together.

-- Darnisa Amante '06 contributed to this article.