Decatur
Author’s Visit A Highlight Of Black History Month
By MICHAEL ALEXANDER, Staff Photographer | Published March 1, 2012
St. Thomas More School, Decatur, celebrated Black History Month during the month of February. This year’s theme was “STM—Embracing Diversity.”
Some of the events that took place during the celebratory month included a dance presentation by the DeKalb School of the Arts, a performance by the Amazing Grace Liturgical Dancers from Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Atlanta, a talk by minister and author Herman “Skip” Mason regarding his experience at the unveiling of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial in Washington, D.C., last October and a visit by author and playwright Pearl Cleage.
Cleage did a reading of her 2005 poem “We Speak Your Names.” The poem is a tribute to a select group of African-American women mentors and role models who have exemplified accomplishment. After her reading, a video tribute to Cleage based on the poem, featuring St. Thomas More seventh-grade students, was presented for all to see.
Cleage also took questions from students. When asked what she would like young people to do today to make a positive change in the world, she said, “Study really hard, find something that you’re passionate about and be involved in the life of your country.”