Members of the Pan African Action Committee, a student organization based at Texas State, organized Black Fest, a festival whose mission was to create a safe space for the Black bodies in and around the San Marcos community, on April 6 at the First Baptist Church NBC.
Binge Kitchen, a local and Black owned vegan restaurant, catered the event, serving vegan mac and cheese and chick’n burgers. Photo by Yunuen Alvarado. 
The festival was open to everyone in the community. Myles Alexander and Carlie Pierre, both second-year graduate students, attended the festival to support their students. Photo by Yunuen Alvarado. 
Lauryn Harris, Houston-born singer, songwriter, and mass communication junior at Texas State, kicked off the musical portion of Black Fest with several songs from her EP titled “Inside My Head.” Photo by Yunuen Alvarado. 
Texas State graduate Tafari Robertson served as the festival’s DJ. Robertson founded the Pan African Action Committee during his time as a student in 2015. Photo by Yunuen Alvarado. 
Students were given the opportunity to vend their products, such as handmade clothes. Photo by Yunuen Alvarado. 
Yansi Arevalo, finance senior, attended Black Fest to not only support her friends organizing the event, but also because her organization, the Underrepresented Student Advisory Council, helped sponsor the event. Photo by Yunuen Alvarado. 
TeraLynn Steele, history junior, is a long-time member of PAAC. Steele is also actively involved in other student organizations, such as Black Women United. Photo by Yunuen Alvarado. 
Gary Fields, philosophy instructor, led the first workshop on Black activism, despite the rain that hit the festival. Photo by Yunuen Alvarado. 
Najha Marshall, president of the Pan African Action Committee, shares her experiences as a Black woman trying to give back to her community while also trying to heal past her traumas. Photo by Yunuen Alvarado. 
Kendra, local musician, was one of the many artists that headlined the fest. Kendra played several original songs. Photo by Yunuen Alvarado.
