Parents, students and teachers gathered at school on March 3 for the annual Black History Month Program held by the African American community here. The program aims to educate and sharing a bit of the African American culture to the community.
Students prepared monologues to impersonate important African American historical figures, a handful of students performed a lyrical dance and there was a fashion display of different African patterns and customary dress.
Senior Kwame Frimpong was the program’s guest speaker and delivered a speech reflecting his personal life as an African American student while advocating for change in the community. Frimpong put out an emotional and motivational message. “My speech was just a message to kids and students like me who want to make a change in our community, and showing that we are have the same kind of value as does anyone in our community,” Frimpong said.
Junior Yordanos Belayneh and senior Myles Frost performed a duet to the song Wake Up Everybody. “Our message was that we are still here, and we aren’t going anywhere, we should be given the same opportunities and a chance at success,” Belayneh said.
The lyrical dance was performed by sophomores Angel Porter, this reporter and juniors Yordanos Belayneh, Richifa Hainikoye,Myra Agwah and senior Mary Hebron. They performed to Beyonce’s “ Listen.” They wore white tank tops slated with “We stand united” displayed across their chests, and a sheer American flag skirt. “We picked this because in the song we are talking to the people who aren’t opening their ears and listening to what we are saying and what we have to offer.The skirts reflect that we stand for the American people and this country as well,” Agwah said.
The program ended with a fashion show. The dancers walked across the stage wearing distinct African clothing.
“This program bonded the African community at school. We had spent so much time together preparing for this program that we made new friendships,” Porter said.

Catalina Escalante

Staff Writer