One hundred fifty years ago this month, local African Americans gathered in celebration of the anniversary of the day Union soldiers arrived in Columbus from Alabama, ushering in an era of freedom for former slaves.
At 6 p.m. Monday, a group of mostly high school students from the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science will hold a performance at Columbus’s historic Sandfield Cemetery honoring the black men and women who overcame racial adversity and helped make Columbus what it is today.
The performance features the school’s student-run gospel choir, “Voices in Harmony,” and students from the school’s African American History class. The students will sing spirituals like “Swing Lo Sweet Chariot” and “Lift Every Voice.”
This will be Nikita Harris’ second year to direct the choir. Harris, a senior, says the choir has been practicing since March and the group’s improvement has been one of her favorite things to see this year. She also loves hearing the students deliver their performances to the audience.
Some students perform spoken word poetry or monologues as local historical figures such as the county’s only African American state senator Robert Gleed, played by junior Mikel Sandifer, and the wife of educator William Mitchell, Susie Mitchell, played by senior Ayana Love.
‘A moment when America became a little bit more American’
MSMS history teacher Chuck Yarborough has directed the program for several years. Students research a local historical figure of their choice and write a monologue, building on research and monologues from years past. Yarborough added it’s important to celebrate the day of emancipation because it’s a celebration of many of the country’s founding values.
“The Eighth of May Celebration commemorates a moment when America became a little bit more American,” he said. “It’s a celebration that speaks to equality and freedom for everybody in this nation.”
For the second year in a row, Tim Spivey, a senior, plays Rev. Jesse F. Boulden, the pastor of Missionary Union Baptist Church and a 19th century era state representative. He delivers a rousing sermon that garners “Amens” from the other performers. The subject of his sermon: freedom.
Tiana Spivey, a senior, plays Sarah Fernandis, a local teacher in the 19th century who went on to head the Memphis, Tennessee, organization the Social Settlement, which did outreach for African American children. Spivey learned that her character would also organize performances for the children she worked with to sing, recite poetry and showcase other talents they had for the community.
“She’s very sassy,” Spivey said of her character.
Spivey’s and the other performances are full of references to the problems African Americans faced during and after Reconstruction, when they faced intimidation and violence from white supremacists.
Jake Bozlee, a senior who plays Freedmen School teacher Cyrus Green, talks about how armed men had to be posted in African American schools and Sandifer’s performance as Robert Gleed includes references to white mobs that attacked African American men and tried to intimidate blacks from voting.
But the general tone of the performance is one of celebration of freedom.
“I am a free man,” says Tim Spivey in his performance as Boulden. “And not one man can take that away from me.”
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.