The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
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Assembly to mark Black History Month
Students to sing songs, read their poetry and celebrate achievements
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: February 7, 2008
Less than a week away from Monday's assembly at Milan High School celebrating Black History Month, the auditorium is largely empty.
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On stage, senior Tori Turner is rehearsing her rendition of Aretha Franklin's "Respect," while in the front row senior Erika Lindsey sits taking notes.
This is the second year that teacher Elaine Briggs' leadership class has organized an assembly that both entertains and informs the student body about African-American history and culture.
"The importance of it is mainly so that we can give a little African-American culture to those who may not be that familiar with it," said Will Castleman, a senior who will read a poem titled, "I'm not a Black Statistic."
The assembly will include performances of songs made famous by African-American singers from a range of decades, as well as dance numbers by the Ypsilanti High School Dance Team, and an original poem by Milan student Andrew Swain. Central to the presentation is a slide show that will run on a large screen behind the performers.
The students have been readying for the assembly since November, and Briggs credits Lindsey's leadership in bringing it all together.
"Erika is the moving force behind all this," Briggs said. "It takes a lot of people to make it happen, but Erika is the drive."
The idea of holding an assembly to mark Black History Month arose last year in Briggs' class and Lindsey seized hold of the idea immediately.
"It helps make the student body more aware of African-American culture," she said. "It's always better for students to hear from other students."
Last year, Lindsey admits she "just whipped" the assembly together, but this year organizers have centered the event around the theme of "roots."
"It's about reliving our past so that we can make a mark on the future," she said.
Among the speakers at the assembly will be Lindsey's first-grade teacher, Jeanne Kitzmann, who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The organizers see the assembly as far more than a performance or a presentation. They see it as having the potential to affect their fellow students' fundamental appreciation of African-American culture.
"I'm glad I can be a part of something that can change people's lives," said Castleman, who at the outset of the assembly will be recognized as Student of the Month by the University of Michigan Credit Union and WAAM radio.
"I think it's going to be a huge success," Lindsey said. "I want people to know it's not going to stop just because some of us are graduating. I actually want to come back as an alumni and see it still going on."
National African American Parent Involvement Day will be marked with a breakfast for parents before the assembly Monday. The breakfast is sponsored by the Minority Student Union and will be held 7:30 a.m. in the Milan High School media center. All Milan High School parents are invited to attend the breakfast and the assembly, which begins at 9:15 a.m. in the auditorium Contact Walter Ragland at raglandw@milan.k12.mi.us for more information.
Staff Writer Brian Cox can be reached at 429-7380 or bcox@heritage.com.
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