Music business sophomore Darryl D. Dawson Sr. sings the African-American national anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by James Weldon Johnson with the help of Counselor Carolyn Foster playing the piano Tuesday during the Black History Month opening ceremony in the Fiesta Room of Loftin. Monica Correa
By Henry M. Martinez Jr.
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
If you were having breakfast or doing homework in Loftin Student Center Tuesday morning, chances are you heard a student singing the African-American national anthem, kicking off a series of free events celebrating Black History Month.
On screen, a documentary played in the background while fliers, goodie bags and programs were distributed.
The video began with Abraham Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation and ended with Martin Luther King Jr. and the Aug. 28, 1963, March on Washington where he delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech.
At the start of the ceremony Barbara Knotts, director of creative multimedia, introduced this year’s theme, “At The Crossroads of Freedom & Equality,” celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation and the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington.
Darryl D. Dawson Sr. sang what has come to be known as the African-American national anthem.
“I picked Darryl,” said Judith Clark, senior secretary of media services, to perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by James Weldon Johnson. “We didn’t audition him because we knew.”
The printed programs for the event contained a laminated lyric sheet encouraging the audience to sing along.
President Robert Zeigler encouraged everyone to attend as many of the sessions as possible.
“Black history is American history,” he said.
He also told students that they should listen to Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech and to watch the movie “Lincoln.”
Clark added “Lincoln” is a powerful movie.
Dawson ended the ceremony by reading “The Emancipation Proclamation,” the decree President Abraham Lincoln signed during the Civil War in 1863 declaring freedom for American slaves.
For more information, email the Black Student Alliance at BSASAC@gmail.com or call the office of student life at 210-486-0125.
Also, to see a full list of events of events at this college, visit http://www.alamo.edu/sac/events/black-history-2013/.
