On Monday, Feb. 12, during third period, I walked out of my classroom into the empty halls while other classes were still inside learning. My fellow classmates and I were on our way to the theater to watch the Black Student Union’s presentation for Black History Month.
Seats filled up quickly as a crowd of students walked into the theater. Music from Black artists played from the speakers waiting for everyone to be seated. BSU president, senior Anaya Kendall, started off with a quick introduction of BSU’s board members for this school year. Following the introductions, College and Career Technician Anthony Butler sang the Black National Anthem to kick off the presentation. Afterward, the board members shared information about Black history, including important people and events.
The presentation then included a singing performance by Lakaya Collins and Butler, who sang “Just The Two of Us,” a 1980s song by Bill Withers and Grover Washington Jr. Both Collins’ and Butler’s voices rolled through the theater as students snapped their fingers along to the beat. The crowd’s applause grew louder after the performance was finished, and the two walked off smiling.
Other performances included Folayemi Shonibare and Shelby Schuberg reading aloud a poem by Maya Angelou called ‘Caged Bird.’ This was then followed by a quick step performance, which is a type of dance where one makes loud noises from clapping, stomping and shouting. To conclude the presentation, junior Asia Celestine performed “I Can’t Breathe” by H.E.R. The curtains closed while BSU members waved and background music filled the theater again.
BSU’s presentation was a great success and gave SCHS students the opportunity to learn more about their great culture. I left the theater talking to my friends about how exciting and happy I was with the presentation.