Our Black History Program began with Principal, Mrs. Lewis, welcoming the families and friends of our students who had come to enjoy the production of “We are the Dream: The Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.” by Kathryn Schultz Miller. According to tradition, the performance was preceded by the audience, faculty, staff and student body joining together in the singing of the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by James Weldon Johnson.
A prelude was offered by Sr. Kathleen’s Pre K and Kindergarten. They performed “Siyahamba”, singing the lyrics in Swahili and accompanying themselves with rhythm sticks. This was followed by the dramatic presentation of the life and times of Dr. Martin Luther King. Students of Pre-K through Grade 6 made up the choir and the cast of characters.
The program opens with a teacher explaining to her class the dream of Martin Luther KIng and announcing that he would be coming to visit their school. The play unfolds by offering vignettes of various events in the life and growth of Dr. King. He is first portrayed as a young boy and the script offers insight into some of the early experiences of Martin as he learns the effects of segregation.
The plot moves on to Martin’s proposal to Coretta Scott.
Dr. King really began his public pursuit of racial equality in the wake of Rosa Parks’ courageous stand on the bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Thus her story became part of the performance.
Woven throughout the story of Dr. King’s life, were renditions of spirituals and Civil Rights era songs by the student choir. Selections in included “My Lord, What a Morning”, Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen”, Oh Happy Day”, “We Shall Overcome” and “Free At Last”.
The cruelty dealt to the youth who participated in the Birmingham Children’s March was portrayed powerfully by the students as a sound track from the actual event played in the background. The audience was solemnly silent as this moment was replayed before them.
The scenes of the drama continued with the latter part of Dr. King’s life and the apprehension he and his family endured due to his activism. A recording of Dr. King’s voice boomed out over the audience in the well known words of his “I Have A Dream” speech. Our student actor froze in witness form as this speech played.
The members of the choir, as well as the rest of the student body, sang the spirituals from their hearts and in full voice.
As the last notes of the closing song rang out through the church, all breathed the joyful words, “Free at last, thank God almighty, we are free at last!” There was much to be proud and happy about in the St. Francis School community.