Hillsboro IB World High school celebrates African American History month with song and spoken word

Hillsboro IB World High School celebrated Black History Month with two days of performances by the Hillsboro Singers and other students who wanted to participate in a celebration with significant cultural importance.

In addition to the two performances, African Americans were recognized each morning through  inspirational quotes.

Black History Month is an annual, month-long celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing the central role of blacks in U.S. history.

Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating black history

Led by Choral advisor, Janelle Ganske, nearly 50 students worked in class and after school to present a program of reflection and celebration for the entire school population.

Students performed for a 45 minutes show that focused on traditional and culturally important African American song with a few easily recognized modern tunes.

Each performance was a moving tribute of song and spoken word that recognized historical  impact of contributions of African Americans through spirituals, modern performers and praise hymns.

The performing students sang these songs:

TRADITION

Down to the river to pray –  transcribed by  native Nashvillian, , George H. Allan and published  in the Slave Songbook of 1867

Jordan’s Angels  Gospel Spiritual by Rollo Dilworth

How Great Thou Art – Hymn by Carl Boeburg

TRIBUTE

(You Make me Feel like a )Natural Woman – Co-written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King; popularized by Aretha Franklin

Fever – Co-written by Eddie Cooley‎; ‎John Davenport (pseudonym for Otis Blackwell; Original recording Little Willie John

At Last – Co-written by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren; original recording the Glenn Miller Band; popularized by Etta James

CHANGE

Change is Gonna Come  – Written and performed by Sam Cooke

My Black Is – Spoken word written and performed by senior, Caleb Ellis

Find the Cost of Freedom – written by Stephen Stills and originally performed by David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash

Heaven Help Us All – Written by Ron Miller; originally performed by Stevie Wonder

PRAISE

Total Praise – Gospel praise song written by Steven Smallwood

For Every Mountain – Written and originally performed by Kurt Carr

It Is Well – Hymn written by Horatio Stafford; music composed by Philip Bliss.

Better Is One Day (IF TIME)  – Praise song written and performed by matt Redmon

The Color Purple – From the musical, The Color Purple; Based on novel of same name by Marsha Norman; music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray.