Video: MSMS Students To Perform 8th Of May Commemoration

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COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A group of local students will take to the stage, portraying a story of bravery and freedom.

Students at the Mississippi School of Mathematics and Science,  are getting ready to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Emancipation in Lowndes county. Members of the Voices of Harmony Choir are involved in this production.

Matthew Sarpong, an MSMS student, says playing his character has been a humbling experience.

“My character is Senator Robert Gleed Senior,  and he was a run away slave from Virginia,” Sarpong said.                                                                                                                                                                           “He made his way to Columbus, and after he got his freedom he began to make a difference.”

Sarpong and other students are portraying historic local African-American leaders.

Tiana Spivey, another MSMS student, will portray an African-American teacher who helped educate slaves.

“It actually makes you get more in touch with your roots,” Spivey said.

The program will include singing and acting at the Historic Sanfield Cemetery in Columbus.  It’s the burial site for Black civil war heroes and other civil rights leaders.
Chuck Yarborough is the program director, and an instructor at MSMS.  Yarborough says the students had to hit the books, in order to get into character.

“These students identified who should portray those roles,” Yarborough explained. “The students got the research and then developed scripts based on that information.”

You can watch the performance on May 8th at 6 PM. The celebration is free, and will be held at the Historic Sanfield Cemetery.

Categories: Local News

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