Songs, poems and dance set the stage on Wednesday for an appreciation of “Celebrating Black Heritage Month…Through the Eyes of a Child” in the Morris University Center Goshen Lounge at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Pre-school students from the SIUE Helen Davis Head Start Center, under the direction of Center Director Wanda Brown, captivated the audience with several numbers. The children sang various songs, including “Lift Every Voice and Sing” (The National Black Anthem) and the “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Also assisting in directing the children were SIUE Helen Head Davis Head Start Center sfaff: Jacqueline Young, Marilyn McCanton, Amanda Armon and Fahmida Ravvi.
The Head Start children also depicted certain African-American figures from history. Students from the SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School performed a series of poems, songs, speeches and dances for their part of recognizing Black History “Through the Eyes of a Child.” The students were directed by Charter High School staff that included: Kimberly Allen, Jamila Ajanaku, Jack Williams and E.L. Wilkes.
Also attending the performances were SIUE School of Education Dean Bette Bergeron and Dr. Venessa Brown, associate provost for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion.
The next Black Heritage Month event scheduled is Africa Night, from 6-10 p.m. Saturday in the Morris University Center Meridian Ballroom. The evening will include food, dance and entertainment. The cost is $10 for students, $12 for faculty and staff, and $13 for the general public. To purchase tickets call the MUC Information Center at 650-5555.
Cutline information:
Pictured are:
• William Molton as George Washington Carver, American scientist, educator and inventor;
• Ryan Chandler as Jackie Robinson, first African American to play major league baseball;
• Jehda Williams as Madam C.J. Walker, entrepreneur who is considered the first self-made female millionaire;
- SIUE Helen Davis Head Start students perform.
Charter High School students pictured and their presentations included:
• T’Yon Leach, freshman,“I Was in My Own Land” reading by an unknown author;
• Taylor Luster, junior, “The N Word” poem by an unknown author;
• Amber Johnson, sophomore, “The Dream” poem by an unknown author;
• Angelica Howard, junior, dancing to Aretha Franklin’s “Young, Gifted and Black;”
• James Washington, senior, and Aaliah Beverly, junior, dancing to Beyonce’s “I Was Here;”
• Anthony Wilmington, junior, singing Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come;”
• Dameon Denzmore and Brandon Rice, both seniors, reading Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.