Mocha Life 2009

Mocha Life is an event sponsored by the Black Student Union at Trinity University. Trinity University's Black Student Union celebrates African and American heritage and culture.

They encourage to follow the seven principles: Unity, Faith, Creativity, Self-Determination, Collective Work, Cooperative Economics, and Purpose. The mission of the BSU is to provide support and encouragement for its diverse members who share a common goal in the interests and concerns of the African and Black American communities. The BSU also functions to enhance and promote awareness and understanding of the history and culture of African and Black Americans, to develop life-long bonds and to help the members create an atmosphere in which they help each other to develop academically and socially within the Trinity University community. Mocha Life is a showcase and celebration of African American Arts. Mocha Life 2009 was held in Laurie Auditorium February 15th at 6:00p.m. Admission was free and open to the public, even with the first arrivals getting free t-shirts with the theme for Mocha Life 2009 on it. The theme for this year was "Walk with me..." demonstrating the uniting of a culture with other cultures as well. This was a very interesting event in that it displayed many forms of art held important and highly appreciated in the black community such from vocal performances and poetry readings to sorority and fraternity performances and tap dancing. This event welcomed outsiders to come and see what was in the core of African American arts. Not only African Americans performed either, there were a wide variety of performers such as Filipino, Caucasian, and Indian as well.

The performances by students at Trinity University included music, dance, skits, spoken word, and an art display in the front of the auditorium by professionals and Trinity students. There were also performances from groups that did not have any affiliation with Trinity except for their want to help the cause of getting the word out about African American arts and the hidden meaning behind it.

"Alysia Livingston, a Trinity sophomore, came up with the concept of Mocha Life in 2006 as a way to express African-American culture to the Trinity community and beyond. She sought to show that African-Americans are a multifaceted and extraordinarily diverse people through performances of the arts. Mocha Life, held in recognition of Black History Month, will give the audience a complete look at African-American culture through theater, poetry, dance, music, and art. "

The schedule for Mocha Life 2009 went as such:

(PS- Sorry most of the videos are sideways)

Act One:

1. Hymn of His Garment

Letisha Jackson, Ministry Leader

Calvary Baptist Church

"In the Midst of it All" by Yolanda Adams

2. Lauren Wolfson- she is a Filipino student who also happens to be my Best Friend!! :) This poem she read for Mocha Life, she also wrote and created herself. She was also involved in the Loon-E-Crew Dance.

These are the words she read/wrote/created"



"I am" Original Poem by Lauren Wolfson

"i am

a woman

with a mind and a face

i am

open, willing, and curious

give me your best shot

hurl the knowledge i lack

right at my face

and into these open arms

rub the wisdom i have yet to gain

into my skin

all over every single inch of my body

i am

impatient and waiting

to become more than this

slap some sense into me

im turning my cheek

kiss the love which i have doubted

and denied

onto my soft yet bitter lips

make me believe in the invisible

shout out the pain that engulfs this world

that smothers children and rapes women

command me to fall on my knees

and lay my head against the beaten earth

and tell me to run my hands against the dirt

where we have lived, loved, and died.

i am

alive

and i am free

as emotion holds me

she takes me in her arms
and interlocks her fingers with mine

and as i look into her eyes

she whispers that through all obstacles

everything will be alright

and that i must take pain into my hands

and grow from it.

i am

living, accepting, and growing

watch me battle all that tries to break me

and see me climb out from under all the rubble

a new me, a beautiful me

the me that i will be

and the me that

i am."

3. Trinitones

"My Girl" by The Temptations

The Trinitones is an all male a Capella group that serenades Trinity campus with weekly performances.

4. African Student Association Dance Team

University of Texas at San Antonio

"Tamale" by Lee Retinour

5. Raj Singh, Kaela Dickens

"Words" by Anthony David and India Arie

6. Reverend Mitchell

Mt. Zion Baptist Church

"I Have A Dream"

by Martin Luther King

7. Morgan Latin

"Every Little Bit Hurts" by Alicia Keys

8. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Zeta Upsilon City Wide Chapter

Act Two:

9. Loon-E-Crew Dance Team

"Everybody Nose"
By Kanye West/ N.E.R.D.

10. Acabellas

"Ain't No Mountain High Enough"

by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell

11. Kelly Merka Nelson

"Funk Love and J. Said Our Whole Universe is Generated by a Rhythm"

By Amiri Bataka

12. Miriam's Phophetess

Dawn Riley, Ministry Leader

New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church

"Invitation" by Byron Cage

13. Daniel Sanchez

"Our Seasons" by Cunning Lynguists

14. Liz Eder

"Everything is Everything" by Lauryn Hill

15. Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Alpha Delta Lambda Chapter

16. Midnight Radio

"Space and Time" Original Song

17. VIP Gospel Choir

University of Texas at San Antonio

"Ride on King Jesus"