“The word I would use to describe black history is “powerful.” If we eliminate our history, we would forget who we are as a people— we would eliminate ourselves,” said Malique Lewis, the Vice President of Black History Club at Miami Lakes Educational Center (MLEC) this past Friday.
For centuries, the black community has fought time and time again against racial stereotypes, demeaning stigmas, and the harsh slurs of not just America, but the world. The month of February, however, shines a light on the many pivotal moments in black history and the people who have overcome the many challenges that have been placed on African Americans for centuries, even to this day.
Yesterday, MLEC took part in the tradition and celebrated the strides that have been made by featuring a show (organized by students), that celebrates Black Culture.
“Black History is all about expressing the talent, the beauty, the fashion, the joy, and laughter within African American culture and our communities,” stated MC Winsely Bernard, the President of MLEC’s Black History Club, who passionately hosted this year’s cultural show.
This Friday, MLEC held a Black History Month showcase that was orchestrated by the Black History Club—to not only honor, but commemorate the many strides that have been taken by Black trailblazers and highlight the achievements within the black community that have brought us to the present day.
The showcase opened up with the NAACP’S own “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which is also referred to as the “Black National Anthem.” The anthem, which had originally been a poem written by James Weldon Johnson, was performed for the first time by 500 school children in celebration of President Lincoln’s Birthday in Jacksonville, FL during the 1900s. The poem was then transferred to music by John Rosamond Johnson, Weldon Johnson’s brother, and adopted by the NAACP years later.
Today “Lift Every Voice and Sing” is a staple of the very essence of the African American Civil Rights Movement and the hope that remained in the hearts of many during the fight for equal rights and opportunities for all.
Throughout the showcase, the Black History Club presented multiple songs, a spoken word performance, dances, and videos that included staff and students among the likes of School Counselor Dr. Joy Davis, Physical Education teacher Mr. Gene Willams, and many others that touched on and captured the many different aspects of black identity.
“If you come to understand our culture and where we come from, we can better understand who we are now in the present moment,” added MC Lewis as he spoke in front of the student audience.
A noteworthy point of the show was when a student at MLEC named Yasmine Robert’s performed a spoken word recitation on the revolutionary underground railroad leader, Harriet Tubman.
Harriet Tubman is a black freedom icon, who single handedly lead hundreds of slaves from captivity into the free world.
“19 times [Harriet] had run for her freedom and the freedom of others… she didn’t come into this world to be no slave and didn’t she plan to stay one either,” recited Robert in MLEC’s filled auditorium.
Many other elements of black culture were modernized and highlighted throughout the show such as the centuries old African dance called “gumbooting”, or “stepping” as it is known now.
Stepping has had a long tradition in African and Black communities. Gaining its origins in Africa, in the modern age it has become a rhythmic performance that is commonly performed whenever there is a celebration of an important event or even, as it is more commonly done now, for competitive sport at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
MLEC’s own “Ground-Breaking Steppers” came out and definitely did it for the culture by performing intricately synchronized claps and taps that were put together to form an entertaining routine.
“The whole showcase was just filled with black excellence. I really enjoyed the whole thing.” stated Ceylon Phillips, a Global Studies student at MLEC.
As the show came to an end, the KitKats put on a serene performance which was followed by Malique Lewis, also known as Lil Vulx, who performed one of his hit songs as well as a sneak peek for an upcoming single, that got the crowd lit and in high spirits.
“What really made the show come together was the fact that we were able to try to represent what it truly means to be black or be a part of a culture.” stated Malique Lewis to close the showcase.
