On Saturday, February 17, Caltech students and staff represented the Institute with a float in the 42nd annual Pasadena Black History Month parade. Led by undergraduates in the Black Student Union (BSU), participants also included members from graduate student group Black Scientists and Engineers of Caltech (BSEC), staff group Black Ladies Association of Caltech (BLAC), and Caltech's mascot, Bernoulli "Berni" the beaver.
Third-year undergraduate Ramona Murugu, who co-founded BSU in 2022 and serves as the group's event coordinator, says this was Caltech's second year participating in Pasadena's Black History Month parade, which is the largest and longest-running Black history parade in Southern California.
"Last year we did participate in the parade as well, and we found that for the Black community here in Pasadena, they really appreciate knowing there are Black people at Caltech," says Murugu. "We didn't realize how much of an impact we would have to the community. People were yelling, ‘Go, you STEM people!' or ‘Go Caltech!' and so we felt very encouraged to come back this year."
BSU junior class representative Darleine Abellard says that impact is the reason she joined the parade this year.
"When I was applying to Caltech, I didn't realize there would be a bigger Black community than what I expected, so any way I can help show that there is a Black community here— there are Black students here and we exist—I'm here for it."
Abellard, Murugu, and BSU co-founder and vice president and third-year Jayden Nyamiaka, woke up early on Saturday morning to decorate the float, a rented truck and trailer, with red, black, and green Pan-African flags, tinsel, and streamers. They taped a Caltech flag across the front of the float.
Bringing up the rear of the parade among more than 80 floats and community organizations, the Caltech group waved to parade-goers lined up along Fair Oaks Avenue in Pasadena and held up large "BSU" letters for the Black Student Union.
"People see all our colors, they see our float, but when they see the big Caltech beaver, that's what people really like," says Nyamiaka.
"The little kids love the beaver," adds Murugu. "Thanks to our involvement in this parade last year, we were invited to one of the local schools to help with ‘STEMonstrations.' When you get out there, you then get introduced to new opportunities to do things within the community, and that's one of the most rewarding things."
Written by Julia Ehlert