Albany High School celebrated Black History on Wednesday with student performances, community speakers and a fabulous soul food dinner.
The evening's theme was "Changing the Narrative."
The event was coordinated by the Albany High My Brothers Keeper chapter, and senior Patrick Ponzo III and junior Troy Treece served as masters of ceremonies. Junior Rashad Miller sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Members of My Brothers Keeper recited the poem “Invictus” by William Ernest Henly.
Another My Brothers Keeper member, sophomore James Campbell, recited his own poem called “Black Reality.” Freshman Heaven Coley read “New Day’s Lyric” by Amanda Gorman and freshman Tashjae Jeanotte read “Hey Black Child” by Useni Eugene Perkins.
Senior Leann Registe donned a golden cape to portray Mother Nature in a spoken dance, and Dynamic Illusion, Albany High’s dance team, performed an energetic step routine.
Invited speakers included Neal Currie of the Fundisha Center, Timothy Owens of the Capital District Pan-Hellenic Council, alums Deshanna Wiggins of the Albany Black Chamber of Commerce and Jahkeen Hoke from Business for Good.
Senior Dashawn Whittle ended the performance with a heartfelt reflection, and the 180-plus people at the celebration dined together at a feast that included chicken, fish, macaroni and cheese, yams, string beans, beans and rice, corn bread rolls and dessert.
Check out a Facebook photo album from the event. (You don't need a Facebook account to see the photos linked in the highlighted text. A window may appear that says, "To see more from Albany City Schools on Facebook, log on or create an account,” but you can dismiss it by clicking “not now.”)
