Harker Heights High School hosted its first-ever Black History Month celebration Friday with a focus on higher education and a wide range of elementary school through adult participants.
Throughout the month of February, schools throughout Killeen ISD host guests, conduct classroom activities and perform in fine arts to learn, remember and celebrate a strong, resilient people.
Kaylae Henderson, the school’s first parent liaison said it was important to her to help organize the event and said it was meant to celebrate everyone.
High school students read poetry, sang songs and shared historical facts. The Cedar Valley Elementary School Steppers provided a high-energy performance that roused the audience members.
Their words and T-shirts spelled out support for historically black colleges and universities (HBCU’s), which was another focus of the event.
Several local chapters of fraternities and sororities provided scholarship information to share with attendees.
Fourth-graders Brylee Denise Minor and ZaKai Blackwell explained their love for stepping and excitement to perform at a public event.
“It’s a good way to express how I feel,” said Blackwell. “It’s a fun after school activity. It felt good to be on stage. It’s about expressing what you feel using your body instead of your words.”
“We were paying tribute to the HBCUs,” Minor said, explaining how different aspects of the show represented a marching band, a majorette team and fraternity and sorority groups.
“I really wanted to do it because I want to go to a HBCU. We did this to support all of them,” she said.
“Stepping makes me energized. It makes me happy. It makes me excited.”
Henderson was excited to pull off the school’s first Black History Month performance, with the school’s counselors and Communities in Schools providing support and a large group of student Excell club members volunteering.
“We wanted to bring out the Black history and excellence. It wasn’t just for Black communities. We are all one.”
Photos:https://www.flickr.com/photos/killeenisd/albums/72177720332188503