by AIDA MALLARD
Special to the Guardian

Poetry and history, singing and dancing, and local history makers were the main attraction at a celebration of Black History Month held Tuesday at Prairie View Academy.

School principal Dr. Barbara Henry offered the welcoming remarks and recited the words to ”Lift Ever’y Voice,” the Negro National Anthem.

“We are here to celebrate our rich heritage and history and to encourage the children,” said Henry. ”These children are bright stars who will become successful and outstanding citizens.”

The school’s safety patrol students led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance, and Frances Leslie sang a stirring rendition of “America the Beautiful” that brought the house to its feet.

“We are here exposing children to living history,” said Cynthia Mingo, the event’s organizer and a retired teacher at the school. ”We are happy and proud today.”

The children in the Head Start program performed like seasoned veterans for an appreciative audience as they recited, “A Beautiful World” and “My People,” poems by Langston Hughes.

The fifth-graders had everyone’s feet a-tapping with a lively dance to the song, “Shake Yourself Loose.”

Although a large group of the students consisted of little ones in Head Start and kindergarten, they behaved like their older peers and listened intently.

The theme, “History Living Among Us,” was well covered with local history makers giving brief presentations.

Charles Chestnut III, a local civil rights activist and former elected official, shared a powerful poem with the children. He told the children, “You are the future of our world. Become stepping stones and do not become stumbling blocks.”

Kali Blount, an advocate for black history to be taught in schools, said, “Remember black history every day of the year, and not just in Black History Month.”

Lizzie Jenkins, president of the Real Rosewood Foundation Inc. and the author of ”Rosewood,” said she was just 5 years old when she heard what happened at Rosewood and knew even then that she would write the story someday. “This is my story and I am sticking to it,” she said.

Historian Vivian Filer talked about the Cotton Club and the plans for the building to become a museum and cultural center.

Margaret Rosenberger, who was the school’s second principal when it was Prairie View Elementary and also an author, spoke about the early days, and she gave Henry a copy of her book, “A Lifetime of Humor,” for the school library.

Dr. Lougene Hill, who served as school principal from 1980-1998, joked, saying, “There were some good times, some not so good. No, I don’t miss it and I don’t want to go back.”

Then in a more serious mode, he said, “Too often, we become complacent and want to maintain the status quo. Take the good and the bad and roll with the punches. These boys and girls are our future.”

The Rev. Gladys Days, pastor of Abundant Life Outreach Ministries, sang “If I Can Help Somebody.”

In closing remarks, Mingo asked the audience for feedback and received a resounding “Excellent!” But for kindergarten student Carmen Pierce, the program was fun, and the “dancing was great,” she said.