Lauren Saner / Winonan

One of Winona State University’s newest clubs, Women Of Color Association (WOCA) is hosting an event on campus at the end of April, called “Juke Joint: A Night of Soul,” which will present music and food from the Jim Crow era.

Junior Ashlyn Crawford, WOCA student relations representative described how important “juke joints” were to the African American community during this tense time in American history.

“During the Jim Crow era, when Southern states were segregated, African Americans couldn’t go to certain restaurants or bars, so they created these things called ‘juke joints’ which were these small, hole-in-the-wall, Black-owned restaurants that had live music, soul food, spoken word and jazz performances,” Crawford said. “It was a way that, even in the Jim Crow era, African Americans were able to find ways to come together and be a community and express themselves through music and food.”

“Juke Joint” is WOCA’s first big event on campus and is incorporating an event that happened a few years ago at Winona State, the “Soul Food Dinner.”

“The biggest difference between the ‘Soul Food Dinner’ in the past and our event is the entertainment aspect and that the Women of Color Association is putting it on rather than whatever group they had back then,” WOCA president and co-founder Nicole Nelsen said.

The event’s menu features fried tilapia, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, yams and cake for dessert.

At the dinner, Winona State students and headliner Ms. Bettie Mae Fikes will be reciting spoken word, singing, rapping and playing instruments. WOCA had many Winona State students audition to perform at the event, as well as some community members and some students from Saint Mary’s University.

“During the Civil Rights movement and the Jim Crow era, Ms. Bettie Mae Fikes was a renowned blues singer,” Crawford said. “She’s performed at all types of places, like Carnegie Hall. She is a big name to come to Winona State and perform for us.”

The event would not have been possible without the help of Multicultural Students Making a Difference (MCSMAD).

“MCSMAD is there if we need volunteers, financial help, layouts for posters or anything like that. They have also helped get the word out and find student talent for the event. They are a great partner for the future as well,” Nelsen said.

“Juke Joint: A Night of Soul” takes place April 23 at 5:30 p.m. in East Hall. WOCA will be selling tickets for $15 in the lower hyphen of Kryzsko Commons until April 19.