Black Leadership Awareness and Culture Club (BLACC) members serenaded the middle school with the African American anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing, during the special assembly on Monday, Feb. 27. Along with various presentations in honor of Black History Month, the singers aimed to educate their peers by sharing unrecognized aspects of African American culture.
Since many BLACC members participate in the various singing classes, the affinity group decided to incorporate a vocal performance into the assembly. In addition to practicing individually, the singers congregated in the choir room on Thursdays during break.
Performer McKenzie Henry ’27 enjoyed broadening her classmates’ perspectives. She valued how the assembly taught students about the impact of African American culture on society today, a contrast to the classes which solely highlight African American culture in the past.
“It shows people a different side of African American culture besides what we learn in history class,” Henry said. “You hear about it in assemblies or in classes, but we don’t really get present-day examples.”
After BLACC leaders asked performing arts teacher Paul Keilbach to contribute his choral expertise to the performance, he enthusiastically accepted. Keilbach viewed the rendition of Lift Every Voice and Sing as a wonderful opportunity to recognize African American culture’s impact on music.
“Being aware of what’s out there in the world makes us all better,” Keilbach said. “This acknowledges African American history and choral tradition since there is so much music unique to that community.”
