Friday, February 9, 2012 —
The usually quiet library of Albemarle Middle School was filled with sounds of excitement as students awaited the annual Black History Month program.
Each year, students from each grade volunteer to re-enact a notable black American from history. The students then perform in front of a different grade from their own.
“I like to see what the kids come up with. It is always a surprise on what’s going to happen,” Trudy Saunders, Albemarle Middle School librarian, said.
Saunders began the program after a former vice principal asked her to. The success of the first year, and the enjoyment the students got from participating, prompted Saunders to continue the Black History Month program each year.
At each program, a student plays the host and, using a karaoke machine, presents to the audience each historical person.
This year, 16 sixth-graders, 18 seventh-graders and 15 eight-graders performed twice, one time each for the other two grade levels.
Many students, included Kayla Cole, have participated in the program before. Cole played the role of CeCe Winans, a gospel singer, and even performed a song during her re-enactment.Shaiyah Richardson who participated as Beyonce Knowles, and Taya Johnson, who acted as Billie Holiday, wore floor-length gowns to truly become their character.
Many other students performed dressed as their character and shared facts about their individual to the audience.
The students had one opportunity to practice before performing and the schedules were set so that no student missed any of their math or reading curriculum that day.
Students who participated included:
Sixth Grade
Rachel Moon - Rebecca Lee Crumpler, doctor
Destiny Brown - Madame C.J. Walker, entrepreneur
Journey Wall - Maya Angelou, author
Samuel Hopkins - Martin Luther King Jr., Civil Rights leader
King Medley - Bill Cosby, comedian
Lyric Townsend - Aretha Franklin, singer
Khyra Shankle - Ruby Bridges, student
Camryn Hamilton - Walter Peyton, football star
Timothy Ridenhour - Denzel Washington, actor
Logan McDonald - Barack Obama, president
Jevon Blackmon - Jerry Rice, football star
Kelan Hamilton - Michael Jordan, basketball star
Jeannie Misenheimer - Halle Berry, actress
Nyquarious Garner - Will Smith, actor/comedian
Jaden Chambers - Emmitt Smith, football star
Malika Morton - Queen Latifah, singer/actress
Seventh Grade
Jimere Davis - George Washington Carver, scientist
Jadea Emery - Bessie Coleman, aviator
Justin Barrier- Thurgood Marshall, judge
Ian Cox - Jesse Owens, track star
Taya Joseph - Billie Holiday, singer
Jonathan Cummings - Jackie Robinson, baseball star
Kenya Wall - Coretta Scott King, Civil Rights leader
Justin Blanton - Hank Aaron, baseball star
Taylor Donnally - Wilma Rudolph, track star
Ricky Sanders - Jesse Jackson, politician
Trevante Bennet - Muhammad Ali, boxer
P.T. Childress - Magic Johnson, basketball star
Sam Holshouser - Florence Griffith-Joyner, track star
McKayla Butler - Vanessa Williams, actress
Kayla Cole - CeCe Winans, gospel singer
A.J. Allen - Kareem Campbell, skateboarder
Shaniece Taylor - Venus Williams, tennis star
Shaiyah Richardson - Beyonce Knowles, singer
Eighth Grade
Joshua Lloyd - Frederick Douglas, abolitionist
Talesha Currie - Harriet Tubman, abolitionist
Kayla Owens - Marian Anderson, singer
Essence Burns - Rosa Parks, Civil Rights leader
Oniya Ewing - Constance Baker Motley, lawyer
Scottie Green - Malcolm X, public speaker
Dorain Turner - Ray Charles, musician
Taniyah Rucker - Tina Turner, singer
Rhadasia Harris - Patricia Bath, eye doctor
Ariana Craig - Diana Ross, singer
Zykia Graham - Condoleezza Rice, secretary of state
Bradley Thompson - Michael Jackson, singer
Kerrisha Kluttz - Michelle Obama, First Lady
Jaylon Potter - Jamie Foxx, actor
Dijonna McLendon - Lisa Leslie, basketball star
Education
Related Photos
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Taya Johnson acted as Billie Holiday for her presentation at Albemarle Middle School. Mary Elizabeth Robertson
Discussion
AMS observes Black History Month
Students pay tribute to famous individuals
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