‘Race to the Start’ Documentary Premieres on Campus

The film highlights the 50-year history of the Black Student Union at Holy Cross

February 24th, 2020 by Jane Carlton

Four people sit on a panel at a table and laugh
From left to right: Nakyah Lucas '20, Payton Shubrick '15, Eddie Jenkins '72 and Art Martin '70 laugh during the BSU student and alumni panel. Photo by Avanell Brock

seven people sit on a panel at a long table
From left to right: Dianne Jemmott '77, Jordyn Shubrick '22, Feleicia Jeter '20, Nakyah Lucas '20, Payton Shubrick '15, Eddie Jenkins '72 and Art Martin '70. Photo by Avanell Brock

a mans stands at a podium
Art Martin '70 addresses the crowd. Photo by Avanell Brock

three people sit on a panel and laugh
From left to right: Debroah Hodges-Pabón '87, Kona Khasu '92 and Dianne Jemmott '77. Photo by Avanell Brock

people sit in a crowd of chairs
Students, faculty, staff and alumni gathered to watch the documentary. Photo by Avanell Brock

a crowd shot with father boroughs sitting in the middle
Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, S.J., sits in the crowd. Photo by Avanell Brock

A man stands in the crowd and asks the panel a question
A crowd member asks the panel a question. Photo by Avanell Brock

Two people talk and laugh
Kona Khasu '92 speaks with Mable Millner, retired director of multicultural education and associate dean of students for diversity and inclusion. Photo by Avanell Brock

“We were all fashioned by the events in history we found ourselves in. What we saw, what went on, how we dealt with our relationships — all came as our being members of the Holy Cross community,” Art Martin ’70, co-founder of the Black Student Union (BSU) at the College of the Holy Cross told a room full of students, faculty, staff and alumni after a viewing of “Race to the Start” on February 18.

Kona Khasu ’92 created the 45-minute documentary in honor of the BSU’s 50th anniversary year. Khasu’s work — which included extensive interviews and archival footage of the College — was showcased on campus to a full house. After the film, a nine-person panel of current students and alumni — including Art Martin ’70, Eddie Jenkins ’72, Payton Shubrick ’15, Nakyah Lucas ’20, Dianne Jemmott ’77, Feleicia Jeter ’20, Jordyn Shubrick ’22, Debroah Hodges-Pabón ’87 and Kona Khasu ’92 — reflected on the piece and answered questions about their experiences in the BSU.

Payton Shubrick expressed how being a BSU alumna is about “being given a charge to uphold the torch” that the group represents.

“There’s something about an openness to change and wanting to do better that paved the way to what I am doing today.”

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