PirateQ 
Featured program guests (clockwise, from left): Sing Harlem Choir, Jean Pierre N’Dione, Dr. Lusharon Wiley, and Glenn Parker.
Pensacola State College’s Multicultural Committee is set to host “A Black History Celebration: Exploring our Heritage through Music” on Thursday, Feb. 27, from 12 to 1:45 p.m. at the Delaino Student Center on the Pensacola campus.
This dynamic celebration will honor the rich cultural legacy of Black heritage through music, with engaging history lessons from prominent local leaders emphasizing the importance of learning about and embracing one’s culture.
“It’s open to students, faculty, staff and community members, and it’s completely free. We’re excited to explore our heritage through music. It’s going to be a great time,” said committee chair Veronica Jennings.
The event will open with an invitation for all attendees to join in singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” setting the tone for an uplifting and educational experience. Dr. Rameca Vincent-Leary, Administrative Liaison of the Multicultural Committee, will serve as Mistress of Ceremonies, welcoming the audience and introducing distinguished guest speakers from the Pensacola community.
Dr. Lusharon Wiley, Chair of the Joyful Noise! Gospel Celebration Event Committee will lead an engaging discussion on gospel music’s history and cultural significance.
Dr. Wiley holds a doctorate in Diversity Studies from the University of West Florida. She is also a graduate of the Social Justice Training Institute, the Leadership Challenge, the Donald Gehring Institute, and Leadership Pensacola. A prominent leader at the UWF, Dr. Wiley worked in both Academic Affairs and Student Affairs, eventually ascending to the Associate Dean’s position. She founded and participated in multiple inclusion and diversity groups and committees during her long and successful career with the university.
Gospel music lovers will be treated to a special video montage of the Sing Harlem Choir, a group that electrified audiences at the WSRE Joyful Noise! Gospel Celebration in Pensacola last November. This segment is sure to inspire, with powerful performances that bring gospel music’s legacy to life.
Shifting the focus to another foundational genre, prominent local restaurateur Jean Pierre N’Dione will take the stage to discuss the history of the blues.
Known to all as Jean Pierre, this beloved Pensacola figure grew up in Senegal, West Africa, before moving to Toulouse, France, and later settling in Pensacola in 1998. He began his journey in the restaurant industry as a server at The Fish House in 2001, quickly rising through the ranks to become Service Manager within eleven months. By 2009, he was the General Manager of The Fish House, The Fish House Deck Bar, and Atlas Oyster House. The following year, he proudly became a U.S. citizen. A University of West Florida graduate with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, Jean Pierre is now the co-owner of Five Sisters Blues Café, where he is dedicated to providing guests with an unforgettable dining experience steeped in Southern hospitality.
His presentation will be a perfect lead-in for a live performance by renowned rhythm and blues guitarist and singer Glenn Parker, whose band performs every Saturday night at Five Sisters Blues Café.
A native of Milton, Parker is a well-known name along the Gulf Coast, with The Glenn Parker Band serving as the house band at Beau Rivage in Biloxi for many years. Known for their smooth and sophisticated sound, the band seamlessly blends jazz, soft rock, blues and classic R&B – always leaving their audiences wanting more. Parker has gained national, headlining venues in Las Vegas and throughout the southeast.
As the event draws to a close, guests will have the opportunity to win exciting prizes, capping off a joyous celebration of music, history and culture.
For more information about the event, contact Veronica Jennings at 850-484-1759 or vjennings@pensacolastate.edu.