As Black History Month draws to a close, a handful of Guilford students gathered to learn more about the life of one of the greatest jazz and blues vocalists America has ever produced.On Feb. 20, Guilford’s Blacks Unifying Society (B.U.S.) invited students to attend a showing of “Lady Sings the Blues” in recognition of Black History Month. Based on Billie Holiday’s autobiography, the film is a means of celebration and education.

“This was more of an instance of looking back in order to progress forward,” said Junior Alicia Miles, secretary of B.U.S. “You can’t know where you’re going until you know where you came from.”

As a jazz icon, Holiday is recognized worldwide, but many do not know the story of her tragic life. In her personal life, Holiday battled an addiction to heroine and alcohol. In her professional life, she struggled to gain recognition in a racially segregated society. Although she was a star on stage, offstage she was still a black woman.

“Remembering her experiences makes us appreciate the harmony we have now,” said first-year Gilian M’maitsi. “Some of her experiences were harder for her because she was black. Some of those things wouldn’t happen now because a great performer is a great performer. When you come to appreciate people outside of their race, that’s when progress happens.”

“I think that she was multi-faceted,” said Holly Wilson, coordinator of Africana community programs. “She was very passionate about her work. She was also flawed. It’s important to really see people for who they are. That’s one thing we should look at for Black History Month.”

Although the movie showed the darker side of an artist’s life, students were able to see Holiday’s positive influence.

“She is part of our history,” said first-year Grady Gamble, an officer of B.U.S. “She was able to overcome, and a big part of our history has been overcoming racial issues throughout. That is what Black History Month is all about; getting through trials and tribulations.”

After the movie Thomas Coaxum, director of institutional research and assessment, led a discussion about social issues in Holiday’s time including segregation, drugs, and the way the music and movie industries have handled race throughout the years.

This film was the second of three movies shown by B.U.S. The first, “Something the Lord Made,” tells the story of the unconventional partnership between Dr. Vivien Thomas, an African-American lab technician, and cardiologist Alfred Blalock. They worked together, despite segregation, to treat blue baby syndrome.

The third, “Beat Street,” celebrates the African-American contemporary music forms of hip-hop, rap and break-dancing.

Wilson explains that B.U.S. attempted to show different perspectives of the African-American experience in their film choices and for all their programs for Black History Month.

Events this month included a stage production of “Heritage,” an Underground Railroad Tour, a community meeting and showing of the film “Higher Learning,” a hip-hop series, and a “Clothes Swap” fundraiser, among others. While Black History Month will end soon, for many the celebration will not.

“I’m proud to be African-American,” Wilson said. “I’m proud of our accomplishments and our ability to overcome. Every morning I wake up and I’m a black woman and I’m excited. I’m a mother and I want my child to be excited about who she is. For me, black heritage is every day.