Busy night at the ICC Harlem Renaissance-themed casino event

By Essie Newton and Schylar Velez Garza

On Thursday night, students played blackjack and poker at the Harlem Casino Night, organized by several ICC organizations to celebrate Black History Month.

A mocktail bar and food, including wings and chocolate, were available for partygoers, while they tried their hand at winning.

The casino games were free to play, with the winnings being exchanged for raffle tickets.

More tickets meant better odds at winning the raffle, which included several prizes. A $50 Playstation gift card, a movie-themed basket with a Netflix gift card, and a basket full of study supplies were some of the prizes offered.

The event was a collaborative effort between the Black Legacy Organization and the Campus Activities Board, with help from the Student Government Association, Student Management and Retention, and Student Life.

“This idea actually formed because we wanted to honor Black History Month and have an event that was geared towards honoring poets, music, dance, and all of the many things that the Harlem Renaissance has done,” Lamar Anderson, one of the organizers for the event and an academic advisor for TRiO Student Support Services and the Black Legacy Student Organization, said. “The springboard for this event was the movie, Harlem Nights, which is actually based on a casino,speakeasy, and the Harlem Renaissance itself.”

Anderson said the turnout for the event was amazing, adding that he thinks that “it is an event that can continue to grow.”