Black Excellence After Dark turned a campus corner into a celebration of culture and community on Tuesday night. 

Students filled the Downing Student Union’s first floor for an event showcasing Black-owned businesses, artists, and student organizations. WKU’s Black Student Alliance hosted the event.

“The energy was really fun, and everybody’s so friendly and sociable,” said Maria Martinez Benitez, a freshman psychology major who came after seeing the event on Black Student Alliance’s Instagram.

Black Student Alliance organizers said the program was designed as a fresh take on Black History Month amid recent campus and country changes regarding diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

“History isn’t over resilience, and our responsibility to respond is basically just an outreach to be able to still show up when we’re always counted out,” said Amaya Sanders, a junior and treasurer of Black Student Alliance.

Vendors promoted sororities, fraternities, fashion, hair care and art while music played.

“I relaunched my business after COVID, and this kind of event helps people see what I offer,” said Kyla Bryant, a junior interior design major who runs a hair care business, Blessed Locs. 

Organizers handpicked vendors to represent a range of services and to give lesser-known entrepreneurs a spotlight. Sanders said the goal was to inspire students who want to start businesses or take leadership roles.

“I hope this shows that anything is possible because there’s other people who’s been in their shoes who have done it,” Sanders said.

Organizers called the turnout a success and said they hope to make the event an annual tradition. 

“Representation is a big win, being able to not be ashamed to showcase great talent,” Sanders said.

Students, vendors and organizers said events like this strengthen campus ties by showcasing talent and giving black entrepreneurs visibility.

“It shows how dedicated we are and what we work for behind the scenes,” Bryant said.