On February 25th, Alexandria City High School hosted its 15th annual Black History Month showcase. Students performed dances, songs and spoken-word pieces. The performance occurred in the auditorium at the ACHS King St. campus during third and seventh periods.
“When I first arrived here we didn’t really have a centralized effort for Black History month,” said social studies teacher Ra’Alim Shabazz, who teaches AP African American Studies. “Some students came to me, understanding where I was mentally, and how much I believe in the history and culture of African Americans. They said we should have a Black History Month program. I agreed.”
Shabazz has led the Black History Month showcase at ACHS since its inception in 2010.
“When [Marcus] Garvey saw everyone returning from World War I, he noticed that the large parades were almost exclusively all white,” said Shabazz. “And he thought to himself, ‘Where is the Black man’s government? Where are our men of big affairs?’ And he said to himself, ‘And since I could not find them, I endeavored to try and make them.’ And similarly, we decided that we wanted to put on a quality program to celebrate the history and culture of African Americans here, and in the absence of it, we built it.”
Former drama and English teacher Leslie Jones, who retired last year after 22 years at ACHS, also helped lead the event.
“It’s nice to be back; it’s nice to be home; it’s nice to be with Mr. Shabazz and the entire Black History Month Committee and family,” said Jones.
Ashley Carter Sinclair, the principal of the ACHS King St. campus, and Melkite Dawit, the Black Student Union president, also made opening remarks.
“Today we are going to celebrate the past, present, and future of Black culture and excellence,” said Dawit.
“We are here to showcase the African diaspora and the influence it has had on our great nation,” said Carter Sinclair. “One person told me, ‘If you want to go fast, you go alone. If you want to go far, you go together.’ Titans go together.”
The ACHS Choir, conducted by Theodore Thorpe III, performed “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by James Willman Johnson and John Rosman Johnson. It also performed “Soon ah Will be Done” by William L. Dawson.
“Although the performance was amazing, our work can never truly be done until we have established freedom, justice, and equality for everyone in this wonderful nation of ours,” said Shabazz.
Senior Christina Caldwell, senior Ella McLaughlin and junior Eliza Quesada Sayler led their own singing performance of “Stand Up” by Cynthia Erivo.
Veronica Jackson, the ACHS orchestra director, discussed the history of African American musical talents, naming Joseph Bologne, John Rosman Johnson, Scott Joplin, William Grant Still, Florence Price, George Walker and Quentin Marcellis among others.
“I stand before you as a result done by African Americans who excelled in classical music,” said Jackson.
The ACHS Orchestra then went on to
perform “Symphony No. 2 in D Major” by Ludwig van Beethoven.
“Hearing about the African presence, even in classical music, goes to show how there are no elements of human achievement that have not been touched by people of the diaspora,” said Shabazz.
The ACHS Jazz Band performed “Lena and Lennie” by Quincy Jones.
“Quincy Jones was not only a jazz trumpet player and jazz arranger back in the 50s and 60s, but was also the mastermind behind Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” the number one album of all time,” said Band Director Douglas Rodgers.
“Lena and Lenny” was a song Quincy wrote for Lena Horne and Lennie Hayton, who had to keep their marriage a secret due to Horne being Black and Hayton being white. California did not legalize interracial marriage until 1948, and Horne and Hayton went public with their relationship in 1960.
Students also performed a variety of dances.
“It’s always affirming when you can see yourself in the classroom and when you can see your culture and history being celebrated,” said Shabazz. “That’s what is going to bring us closer together as a school community.”
Before the Ethiopian-Eritrean club performed a traditional dance, Shabazz explained the history of African American and Ethiopian allyship.
“Blacks here in America have always supported the independence movement of Ethiopians,” said Shabazz. “African Americans have supported Ethiopia against Italy several times. The Ethiopian Air Force was trained by the forefather of the Tuskegee Airmen, who was invited by the honorable Haile Selassie to come forth and train the Ethiopian Air Force.”
Senior Shulamite Yawson performed a Ghanaian dance.
Mariam Jalloh and Demeriea Hannah performed their own dance to a mashup of “Dirty Diana” by Michael Jackson, “Let it Whip” by Dazz Band and “Sipopoue” by Roma Chiyaya.
In between musical performances, students delivered spoken-word pieces and monologues.
“The arts are one way that people who have traditionally been left out and marginalized have an opportunity to express their frustration, their joy, their pain, their protest,” said Shabazz. “Hopefully today, this program has made revolution and change, which we so need in our world, irresistible.”
The showcase concluded with members of the Black Student Union holding a fashion show that showcased Black fashion through the decades.
“Black history is American history,” said Shabazz. “Unfortunately, because it is not fully integrated into all curriculum, it’s important that we always mark the noted achievements of Africans and the African diaspora. There is nothing more quintessentially American than the foundational Black Americans who were here and helped build this nation.”
