Video: Tupelo High School Students Celebrate Black History With Song And Poetry

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TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) — February is Black History Month, and a month of celebrations started in a big way at one area high school. As WCBI’s Allie Martin reports, the annual program at Tupelo High School featured a poet who challenged young people to do great things.

The THS Voices set the tone for this celebration. The entire student body took an hour out of the day to remember accomplishments made by African Americans, and to look ahead.

Asia Rainey is a spoken word poet who performed several original pieces. Rainey, who is from New Orleans, spoke about racial issues and tensions in society, encouraging young people to talk about race, in order to better understand one another.

“Yes, let’s talk about things like Ferguson, let’s talk about things happening in our communities, let’s talk about the violence, let’s make sure that we’re actually not covering it up and instead trying to find solutions,” Rainey said.

She also hopes her presentation will spark an interest in spoken word poetry.

“I hope they start writing, I hope they say, ‘wait a minute, so I can talk about whatever I want, I can get creative about it, I can tell my stories,” she said.

Students say the message was inspiring.

“When you are really free, it’s not just those shackles holding you anymore, just open that door and walk through, being free literally means being free, opening the wings and spreading and soaring,” said THS Junior Ramon Ogden.

“Kids my age should think upon it, and they should try their best and do their best each and every day,” said THS Senior Louanna Cooperwood.

“Even though we’re young, we can still aspire to do things we want to do and our missions and our goals we can make those our reality, but we have to do good in school, and just stay focused and do what we are here to do,” said THS Sophomore Tayolor Witherspoon.

THS students will study notable African Americans throughout the entire month. Asia Rainey is in Tupelo this entire week as part of an annual artist residency program.

www.asiarainey.com