On Thursday, February 27th from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm, the Sophomore Class Cabinet and Religious Life hosted a Black History Program at the Alcorn State University (ASU) Oakland Memorial Chapel.
The Director of Religious Life, Rev. Dr. C J Rhodes, conducted the program. The event began with a prayer then the Chapel choir provided songs to bring an energetic atmosphere to the crowd. Afterwards, Rev. Rhodes told the history of ASU and its role in black history. He stated that, “Alcorn is black history.”
Following Rev. Rhodes, there was a skit highlighting key figures in Alcorn’s history. This lineup featured Hiram R. Revels and Medgar and Myrlie Evers. Not only did these people have a lasting impact on shaping Alcorn’s legacy, but also black history. Hiram R. Revels was the first African American senator of the United States and founder of Alcorn. Both Medgar and Myrlie Evers were alumni of Alcorn and civil rights activists.
After the skit, a group of students performed a dance routine with the song “For Every Mountain” by The Kurt Carr Singers. The performance was to call attention to the poignant words given in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s famous ‘I Have a Dream’ speech where he said, “I’ve been to the mountaintop, and I’ve seen the promised land”.
To conclude the program, the choir sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing” also known as “The Black National Anthem” by James Weldon Johnson. Mekhyia Smith, a Freshmen Psychology major, stated, “The program was very beautifully done, and I enjoyed it thoroughly.”
