Seminole High School held a  “Dinner with Langston” event on Thursday, Jan. 28, in the cafeteria. The evening featured catering by Olive Garden, live entertainment and art provided by Mr. Phi Yoba, an art teacher at Seminole. 

The dinner event was organized by the Black History Committee to lead into the month of recognizing black history and culture. This was the first poetry night that the committee had ever held; its purpose was to inspire and educate students through the work of Langston Hughes, an African American writer and social activist. Hughes was significant in representing the lives and struggle of working-class blacks in 20th century America.

“We chose Langston Hughes because the [students] were very interested in his work and how he became who he is,” explains Ms. Lashelle Guy, a sponsor of the Black History Committee.

Committee members recited poems and performed skits throughout the show and dinner. One student even attended as Langston Hughes himself.

Junior Adourin Owens is a member of the Black History Committee at Seminole and helped with greeting and serving visitors during the event, as well as reciting a poem. He describes that the purpose of the evening was to educate as well as to entertain.

“It’s showing people what we can do, how dedicated we are, how much heart and dedication it takes to put on this,” says Owens. “Not many students here know a lot about the struggle of black history. And a lot of our poems tell exactly what happened and what [African Americans] had to go through.”

The event began with a singer in a gold sequined dress. Following were the skits, recitations and a lyrical performance by a student dancer. Seminole students, staff and families watched as the single spotlight followed each act in the center of the cafeteria, stretching shadows across the tiled floor.

Senior Genice Janvier, President of the Black History Committee, explains that the skits and historical references informed visitors about African American history.

Janvier says, “This event is important to me because it lets us get to show the history behind the black culture and [explain what] all the significant events that these poems Langston Hughes uses are about.”

The “Dinner with Langston” night was the primary function leading up to the Black History Month show. The committee is planning several other events following the show, and aims to continue raising awareness of the nation’s African American history and culture.

Photo Contributed.