RHS holds Black History program
Contributed
February was dedicated as Black History Month throughout the United States, and the observance was reverenced across Franklin County. Among several programs and ceremonies was one held at Russellville High School.
The 2nd Annual Black History Program was inspirational to many.
Aaron Freeman, a graduate of Russellville High School, was the guest speaker, who told attendees about his journey to receiving his high school diploma. He was committed about his grades and attending classes. He was a friendly person but had encountered some bullying as a high school student. There were a few times when he became discouraged, but he always believed in God and knew that things would get better.
His peers, Freeman said, saw him as a light in the midst of darkness. Freeman, a UNA alum and now a music teacher in Lauderdale County Schools, encouraged the students to dream beyond the sky. “Dream,” was a key concept for the program, with each letter given a special meaning.
- D – Direction: have a plan and make a blueprint of what you want to do in life.
- R – Readiness: be assertive and have a mindset to do the work.
- E – Encourage: motivate yourself and don’t rush to process for meeting your goals.
- A – Achievement: raise the bar on your expectations.
- M – Move: be ready to move. Act on your dreams.
The program also included student participation. Alissa Young welcomed school administrators, community leaders and students to the program. Destiny Cooper sang an old favorite Negro Spiritual, “Wade in the Water.” Lukas Hankins introduced the speaker, and Zaria Hollingsworth gave the closing remarks and thanked everyone for their attentiveness. These 12th graders were leaders and will now be passing the torch on to leaders of the junior class to begin preparing the program for next year.
The tone for the program was set by a diverse group of musicians that was introduced by P.J. Winston. Each of these musically-talented students had already graduated from RHS or are due to graduate in the near future. Harlon “Peaches” Winston was the musical director.
