Bringing the BHM Program Back

Clarke Central High School students and staff joined together in Mell Auditorium on Feb. 28 to celebrate Black History at CCHS through a spectacular 90-minute program compiled with performances from multiple of the CCHS fine arts department programs.An official BHM program hasn’t been held since before the pandemic at CCHS, but this year, the tradition re-emerged and proved to be bigger and better than ever, as an arrangement of dancers, public speakers, singers musicians and actors took to the stage to showcase their talents and highlight Black History.

Right: POSITIVE PROGRAM: Clarke Central High School Secretary Linda Glenn sings a gospel song during the Black History Month program in E.B. Mell Auditorium on Feb. 28. For Glenn, the significance of the event was to spread knowledge and show culture while sending the message that everyone is equal. “(Black people) as a race is not recognized enough to me personally. If we do something wrong we’re gonna be recognized, we’re going to go on the front page of the paper,” Glenn said. “But as a whole, even some of our students don’t know our history as a Black person, unless they’ve had parents or grandparents that has been able to teach them that. I want (the students) to realize that we’re all equal. We are human beings and just like Ms. Barnett said at the end (of the program), I want the students to realize that nobody is better than the other one.” Photo by Temprince Battle, story by Victoria Garland

Left: PAYING HOMAGE: Clarke Central High School drama club member Emmanuel Thompson, a junior, performs a tribute to deceased songwriter Michael Jackson at the Black History Month program in E.B. Mell Auditorium on Feb. 28. CCHS Principal’s Secretary Latoya Hill was glad that the event made its return at CCHS after years without one. “I thought it was an amazing program. I was blown away by the talent of our kids,” Hill said. “It felt really nostalgic to have (the program) back after so many years because when I was here (years ago) it was a staple. We had one every year and (it’s) just kind of like a breath of fresh air to hear so many different performances.”

“I hope that the students took away with them that we can come together and be unified as a school. That we have a sense of pride about what we do here, that staff is engaged, students are engaged. But, it’s just that we’re all about the unity that we can all come together as one.”

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“There was a lot behind it. I liked all (and that) it just didn’t set part of Black on the whole spectrum History from music as) having somebody speak (from a personal so it was really -- ROENESSA

CCHS science department lot of true meaning all the contributions didn’t focus on one History. It focused spectrum of Black music to arts, (as well somebody come in and personal standpoint), really nice.”

ROENESSA WITCHER, department teacher