In addition to several performances and presentations on Black History and black excellence, the MSD BSU members also acted as a choir and sang uplifting songs. Photo by Chelsea Townsend.
A celebration of triumph and overcoming hardship. A demonstration of pride and heritage. A way of honoring the legacy of those who had come before. February is a time for African Americans to celebrate their culture during Black History Month (BHM).
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School’s Black Student Union held its annual Black History Month Show in the auditorium on Friday, Feb. 24 from 7-9 p.m. The show, entitled “Say it Loud - A Celebration of Black Culture,” gave audience members a look into the history and importance of Black History and culture.
The event was made possible by a committee of students, directed by seniors Charlene Noel and Roveschney Veillard.
“I celebrate [Black History] every day by being who I am and doing the best that I can,” Veillard said. “I made sure to take a leadership role of planning and executing the show just to encompass a lot of aspects from black culture.”
Tickets were sold at the door and cost $7 for students and $8 for adults. Additionally, students were able to watch a free performance of the show if their fifth and sixth period teachers signed up for seats.
The show was divided into two acts, with a 15-minute intermission separating them.
The performance opened with a playing of the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” The song is regarded as a demonstration of African American pride and overcoming hardships.
Throughout the show, several dances from countries with Black roots were performed; they included Africa, Jamaica, Trinidad and Haiti, all of which incorporated traditional cultural dances, costumes and music. There was also a jazz funk number, with performers dancing to “Alien Superstar” by Beyonce, and a Legends of Destiny Step Team performance.
Sophomore Kalyani Mullings sang a solo cover of the song “At Last” by Etta James, an artist considered to be a pioneer of music and an African American icon. Her song “At Last” was inducted into the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry.
“I had to practice a lot for this performance, but it was a lot of fun representing my culture and family,” Mullings said.
During Act 1, a presentation, titled "Celebration of Black Political Figures and Activists," was given to educate audience members about important African American figures and the impact they had on the country. Portrayers of the figures, students, spoke at a podium on stage, giving a quick description of one of 10 figures, along with a quote from the figure. The leaders featured include Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Fannie Lou Hamer, Malcolm X, Claudette Colvin, Shirley Chisholm, W.E.B Du Bois, Ketanji Brown Jackson, John Lewis, Kamala Harris and Barack Obama.
The BHM show featured two poems, one in each act. The first, titled “I Talk Black,” was performed by senior and BSU President Noldine Belizaire. In the poem, she discussed the problems with the criticism African Americans received for their way of talking and the cultural appropriation of such speech.
“As I was writing the script for the show, I wanted to find a way to bring light into controversial topics that are often overlooked and ignored at schools and communities like MSD, which included the appropriation of African American Vernacular English,” Belizaire said.
The second poem was titled “Black Women Tribute Poem,” which was performed by Belizaire and sophomore Grace Bird. The poem discussed the importance Black women had on the United States and how their problems are often the most overlooked in the country.
In addition, the show had two tributes, one being a tribute to American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson. Students dressed in Jackson’s iconic looks danced along to his songs, with Algebra 1 teacher and BSU sponsor Alexzandria Mighty making a surprise appearance during the performance.
“My favorite part was the step performance and the Michael Jackson tribute,” parent and audience member Gail Wedderburn said. “It's a true reflection of our black culture and was also quite entertaining.”
The second was a "Tribute to the Ones We Lost," a presentation of African American leaders and celebrities who passed away during the past year. Following the presentation, a moment of silence was held to respect the losses.
Other musical acts included a saxophone solo by sophomore Spencer Blake, a piano performance by senior Andres Abreu and a choir act. A Black Fashion Exhibit was also held during Act 2, which displayed the popular fashion trends worn and the backlash received by African Americans through the decades.
The show concluded with a “Soul Train,” which took inspiration from the popular musical show of the same name. All performers lined up and gave one last dance move before bowing and the curtains closed.
At MSD, the importance of Black History and excellence continues to prevail on campus. Through the collaborative efforts of students, teachers and faculty members, the annual Black History Month Show continues to unite the community under one common purpose.
The Origin of Black History Month
Black History Month traces its origins to 1915, when Dr. Carter G. Woodson, nicknamed the “Father of Black History,” created the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. The group worked tirelessly to bring awareness to African American rights in the U.S., and eventually, in 1926, the second week of February became a week to celebrate black culture.
The week was chosen mainly due to it being the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, who were both important to the abolition of slavery. Although they both passed away before the association was founded, their legacy lives on through Black History Week. In 1976, President Gerald Ford recognized Black History Month, which replaced the week with a month, on a national level.
Black History Month was created to provide added recognition and representation to the African American community. Since its creation, it has been a long-lasting, world-recognized celebration of the history and future of African Americans. The Black History Month Show held at MSD was only one way of exhibiting the rich culture and history of African Americans.