The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Scholars celebrate black history
Every year, the Minority Achievement Committee at Elyria High School hosts a program during Black History Month to pay homage to many African American leaders who have shaped the culture
The scholars shared something new this year on Feb. 28 with other students and staff as they used a series of performances to take many back with the presentation titled “Black History Through The Decades.”
Information about African-American culture significant in the time of the 1960s-2000s, was shared by scholar member and junior Diamond Jones.
Diamond introduced other members who represented each decade with clothing, music, signs of protest and of celebration in campaigns through the last 50 years to today.
To conclude the program, a musical performance was held by the high school’s choir Madrigals. They performed two songs called “Will the Circle be Unbroken,” and “The Storm is Passing Over.”
MAC Scholar Advisors Betsy Trump and MAC Scholars Advisor Troy Hill said they were proud of the students who shared their talents and showcased what they have been working on.
Trump said the students were excited to be a part of a program they are passionate about, adding that the students prepared so heavily for the program that they even missed classes.
Ammyah said she joined
the group two years ago because she wanted to share her passion of the culture with other students. With MAC, she feels she can really use her voice.
“It feels great to have this program be all about the kids and not the adults,” she explained. “It was our ideas and we contributed the best we could.”
Kailah Stephens, a junior who has been with the MAC Scholars for three years, said she likes that the group gets to showcase every year and share something new.
She said she likes sharing information about black history that not many people know about.
“It’s a blessing to be able to share it with the school,” Kailah said. “It’s something that we can share
with them that doesn’t get taught every single day.”
Kailah was part of the praise dance during the program and has been involved in a similar group at her church Cathedral of Praise, since she was three, she said.
She likes to show talents that God has given the students to everyone else, like a school environment, she said.
The program was kicked off by members of the MAC Scholars performing the Negro national anthem and followed with an African-American praise dance.
Poetry and skits were performed by MAC Scholar President and senior Ammyah Miller and her mother Yvette Miller.
Ammyah performed the poetry while her mother sang and acted out skits of activists and abolitionists Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman.
For over 20 years, MAC, a student-led program aimed at improving the academic achievement of minorities through mentoring and community service, has been an evolving group at Elyria High School and others, according to Hill.