“Why am I saying all of this? To show how far we’ve come,” former Major League Baseball player, coach and public speaker Mookie Wilson said during his speech at the Black History Month assembly Feb. 20.
The second period event featured the Raider Orchestra, Raider Chorus and seven student speakers. Student Body President senior Mary Ellis Power opened the event with a remembrance of civil rights activist Jesse Jackson, who passed away Feb. 17. She recounted the South Carolina native’s importance in the Civil Rights movement.
Following Power was Violin II section leader senior Jay Williams introducing the Raider Orchestra, which performed “L’amant Anonyme Overture” by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges.
Next, junior Deianna Wright presented her first-place MLK Oratorical Contest speech.
“[Speaking in the program] meant speaking up for people my age and for people the same color as me, to show that we are equal,” Wright said, “and speaking up so we can have better opportunities, and speaking up for people who are too scared to speak up.”
Later, Soprano II section leader senior Ressa Moates introduced the Raider Chorus’s performance of “You Can’t Step Twice” by composer Brian Tate. Next, sophomores Taraji Jenkins and Keymyja Latimore introduced the Divine Nine, nine fraternities and sororities that originated at HBCUs, inviting Divine Nine alumni to the podium to represent their organizations.
After the Divine Nine tribute, senior Nemo Fernandez introduced the guest speaker. Wilson went on to give an empowering speech, talking of his struggles and of how far American society has come from when he was a child. He motivated students to persevere through life, to give it their all.
“Expectations are personal. Expectations are what you expect of yourself,” Wilson said.
In an interview after the program concluded, he provided advice for students.
“Prepare yourself. Be prepared for whatever life throws at you in this changing world,” he said. “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket, be as well-rounded emotionally, intellectually, physically [as you can be].”
Following the end of the program, LDHS held a small convention during all lunches where colleges, mainly featuring HBCUs, set up tables around Commons for students to visit during lunch.
