Members of the Black Student Union held its fifth annual Fashion and Talent Show Friday night in the Student Center coinciding with the celebration of Black History Month.

This year’s theme was “A Summons From the Past: A Command for the Future,” as more than 70 Cerritos students attended the events and were reminded of why the theme was of importance.

Cerritos College President Dr. Noelia Vela explained the reason behind the theme. The examples were people who took command of the future after going through something in the past.

Celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Ervin “Magic” Johnson, and seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong all overcame a difficult period in life. Vela commented that growing up, Winfrey had been raised poor and that she had to reach for a higher purpose for the means of success. And she has.

“Winfrey has been considered one of the most influential people by Time Magazine as well as one of the powerful,” she said.

In addition, the reason for her success is as Vela said, because of something that music producer Quincy Jones said, “I see your future so bright that it is burning.”

Following Winfrey was Johnson the former Los Angeles Lakers point guard and his reason for moving forward. He too overcame the acknowledgement of his diagnoses with the HIV virus that force him to retirement on Nov. 7, 1991.

It has led to Johnson success with an empire of movie theatre in urban areas, the Magic Johnson Foundation that teaches the values of education to inner-city kids and his charity work.

Lastly, Armstrong who overcome the diagnoses of testicular cancer and was told by doctors that there was a 50 percent chance of not surviving that led to seven wins of the Tour de France until his retirement in 2005. He has begun the Livestrong Foundation that researches a cure for testicular cancer.

Afterward, BSU Vice President Jelani Dunn said that it has been important to hold this event, “because it gives the opportunity to recognize people who have made a difference in the world.”

He continued, saying, that the BSU members and BSU adviser Connie Hunter did a great job with organizing the event and with the people that showed up for the event it shows that people support the important of not those who are celebrated during Black History Month but also people in general.

Hunter could not be reached for comments.

Davon Jackson, culinary arts major, said that it is important to have an event like the Talent and fashion show because not only does it show support, “but that it shows support for all fellow Americans.”

However, current Cerritos students weren’t the only ones who attended to show support. There was also support from former students like Roger Hills, Jr. and Cal State Fullerton student and business major, Charles James.

He said that with the turnout there was support for what the club wanted to represent, and added that this was the first time he’d attended the event itself. James too said it was the first time he attended the event. He enjoyed it.