Central High celebrates its diversity

It was an afternoon of songs, dances, poems, pride and humanity as Valley Stream Central High School hosted its fourth annual Black History Month celebration on Feb. 16 in the Keller Auditorium. The show featured performances from students and guests in front of dozens of their peers and community members.

Amy Neuner and the Men’s and Women’s Choir kicked off the show that began at 4 p.m. by performing back-to-back songs. Many of Central’s students stuck around after school to support their peers and to enjoy the performances.

Nakeshia Smith, a math teacher at Central, played an integral part in organizing the show. After months of planning that began in November, she said she was happy with the turnout.

“It’s very important that our students attend and show their support by coming or even performing because one thing we always stress to them is how diverse our school is and how that should be celebrated,” Smith said. “I always tell all of my kids that the one race that matters most is the human race. That was the highlight of the show, to make us all unified.”

Central students Laurianna Rosado and Imade Omogun co-hosted the show and introduced each performance. The Performing Arts Musical Theatre students performed “On Children” by Sweet Honey. Rosado set up the song by saying, “It speaks of how a parent must let their child grow into their own person, have their own hopes, dreams and goals.”

A new element to this year’s program was poetry readings done by contest winners in grades 10 and 11. Smith said Central English teachers selected three winners from each grade. Three readers from the Languages other than English (LOTE) class followed the poetry winners.

Guest performers, Wil Smith on piano and singer Mykal Kilgore, participated in the Central’s Black History Month celebration for the first time. The two know Neuner through a church choir and were invited to attend the event. When the two guests weren’t performing, they were happy to watch the Central students entertain the crowd.

“I just like how much bravery it takes for a teenager to get up in front of their peers and do anything that they feel passionate about,” Kilgore said. “So I had a good time all around.”

Smith and Kilgore also performed with Central’s Gospel Choir to close out the show. The crowd gave its approval as it erupted in applause multiple times during the final set of songs.

“You want people to be affected by what you do,” Kilgore said, “and you want them to care, and you want them to be excited. It always feels good to hear applause, but I think what I like more is hearing the moments of silence because I knew they were paying attention and something was permeating.”

Winchel St. Fluer, a junior at Central, and Gabriel Carberry, a senior, are members of the Gospel Choir and said they practiced for two months leading up to the event. Performing with Smith and Kilgore was a great thrill for them.

“It’s always fun to invite new people to perform,” Carberry said. “Him singing just gives me goose bumps,” he said of Kilgore.

“I was excited to do something with a school where people would come after school hours to be involved in celebrating Black History Month,” Kilgore said.

The Dance Concentration from the Performing Arts Program and the Central Step Team also dazzled the crowds with routines. Smith said the Black History Month celebration has continued to grow and Central and the staff will definitely look to continue putting on its annual show next year.