On the evening of Febuary 10, St. Benedict Hall was the scene of a spectacular Celebration of Black History & Culture that included cultural displays, music, dancing, and delectable food and, the highlight, a fashion show that featured ten models from Delbarton, and eleven models from Kent Place School...

Both schools also provided very adept MC teams to add style-by-style color as models strutted down the red runway to audience applause.

The fashions shone a spotlight on a new generation of visionary tastemakers of African descent and included designers Diarrablu, D'iyanu, Duane Fish, Egypt 'Ify' Ufele, Farm Rio, Hanifa, Icecream, Noni Styles and Oula Company. Featured stores included Anthropologie, Nordstrom and Statement Piece, and the show was beautifully produced by Shelly Laurel.

A poem, Ode to Black History Month,  written by Delbarton mother Varanda Handy P'25, lauded 'black trailblazers, gamechangers and innovators' was read aloud to open the event:  "Remembered by history books or not, seen and unseen, they are countless evidence of their brilliance..."

Next, Jennifer and Carl Mazzanti '94, P'27 presented a donation of books by American poet, novelist and short story writer Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906) to the Delbarton Library (Jennifer is a collector of books by African American authors). Meanwhile, throughout the evening a spectacular array of delicious options was served in Spada Commons including, among other temptations, a terrific homemade Banana Pudding for dessert. Delbarton Headmaster Fr. Michael Tidd, OSB offered a blessing and welcomed guests to St. Benedict Hall.

Music followed, performed by the Zawadi African Dance and Drum group.

Next came the main event, a well-paced fashion show that also included several professional models. Delbarton alumnus and professional model Kody Onyiuke '09 did a wonderful job guiding his younger Delbarton brothers onto the runway.

We thank him for taking a break from his NYC Fashion Week modeling gigs to join us back at Delbarton last night. Talented singer Yasmeena S. was applauded for her beautful performance, and guests lingered to take another look at the interesting cultural displays arranged throughout the Library. 

This was truly a special evening for both Delbarton and Kent Place School. The collaboration between the two institutions created such positive synergy among the students and families, and attracted an overflow crowd to the event. Thank you to the Kent Place Diversity & Equity Parent Group for partnering with Delbarton Parent Council on Diversity & Inclusion (PCDI) and our student group Diversity Among Peers (DAP). To all Black History celebration volunteers, your hard work created such a powerful, colorful, delicious and joyful evening for everyone who participated, and for all who were fortunate enough to attend.

Enjoy these favorite photos from this memorable evening at Delbarton...