Students celebrated Black History Month and their diversity through food and music Thursday at Lyons Township High School.
The Black and Multicultural Club organized a Taste of Soul that drew about 150 students who munched on rib tips, chicken, greens, macaroni and sweet potato pie.
But that wasn’t all that was on the menu.
The club invited the French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese and Prism clubs, among others, to bring foods that represented those cultures to the event at the south campus in Western Springs.
They added such items as Spanish candies, guacamole and chips, fortune cookies, and croissants and salads to the banquet. The clubs manned stations where they served their foods to the guests.
“We wanted to share with all the groups because we’re a family,” said Elizabeth Watkins, sponsor of the Black and Multicultural Club. “Our slogan is ‘We are LT.'”
Kendall Collins, a senior and president of the club, agreed.
“I wanted the kids to experience foods from all the cultures at LT and the amount of diversity we have and to celebrate it,” he said.
With a guitarist playing music in the background as students visited the various stations that lined a conference room. They gathered at tables to eat and chat.
Senior Brandon Paras, co-president of the Spanish Club, said he was happy his club could participate.
“I love just how laid back it is and the atmosphere is positive. Everybody is smiling,” he said.
Andrea Gonzalez, a sophomore from Countryside, said she liked celebrating “the uniqueness of every culture.”
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Her club — the Chinese Club — brought fortune cookies to the event.
“They aren’t really Chinese, they’re American,” she noted.
French teacher Anna Maria Kostecki urged students to enjoy a croissant.
“We’re just glad to be part of this,” she said. “This is bringing kids together who might never see each other. I’m getting to meet a lot of students I might not ever run into.”
Polishing off her meal while sitting with a group of friends, freshman Amani Kimber of La Grange was glad she came to the event.
“I like how everyone has their station and it’s really welcoming,” she said.
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