Students at East Aiken celebrate Black History Month with assembly
DeAndre Rogers, an East Aiken Elementary School fifth-grader, got his own dream come true - portraying the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in a Black History Month assembly at the school.
"He was so excited," said physical education teacher Kathy Linton, "especially when he raised his arm for the 'I Have a Dream' speech."
The program tied into the February character trait of resourcefulness. Program hosts and fifth-graders Stephanie Stevens and Danasha Parker described how African slaves were brought to this country on ships and sold to plantation owners.
The slaves were forbidden to communicate with each other in their own language because the owners were afraid they would revolt.
"The slaves loved to sing and move, and it did not take them long to figure out how to send messages back and forth as they sang," Parker said. "They were very resourceful and also managed to lift their spirits as they sang."
She and Stevens also discussed the courage and resourcefulness of abolitionists who created the underground railroad - the routes that slaves took north to freedom. Harriet Tubman, who was born a slave, helped many slaves escape, and she later became a Union spy during the Civil War.
The musical selections included songs from students Matt Poulton and Jenny Taylor. Student Council fifth-graders performed a "ring shout" of drumming and dancing.
Teaching assistant Antonio Scott read the story about King with Rogers. Other actors included Breannia Holmes and Tromaine Toy and the Student Council members.
Parker and Stevens also cited other examples of resourcefulness at East Aiken. The fourth-grade gardening club makes chia people out of cola cans and knee highs. "Just say no" posters around the school were created from the outside wrappers of computer paper, and the school collects can tabs to assist the Ronald McDonald House.
"Thanks to Ms. (Dianne) Polk and the fourth grade," Stevens said, "we have a wonderful recycling program for paper, cardboard and plastic and aluminum."
Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.