In honor of Black History Month, Venice’s Black Student Achievement Plan will present the “B.S.A.P. Choice Awards,” a theatrical production celebrating contemporary Black artists.
The performance will happen today during fourth period and after school at 6 p.m.
Various numbers will visually portray modern artists’ biographies and contributions to Black history. Students nominated key figures in present-day Black culture such as the artists SZA, Tyla, Zendaya, and Issa Rae to be predominantly featured in the show.
BSAP climate advocate Taylor Thomas created Venice’s Black History Month assembly for students to focus on their creativity.
“I created it to give the kids a way to work on their creativity,” Thomas said.
“The assembly is very important because it shows who we are, our Black history, it’s important, period.”
For this year’s assembly, Thomas specifically wanted to emphasize present-day Black artists to better connect with the school’s audience.
“I don’t like to always focus on the past, I like to focus on the future,” she said. “It’s new history, it’s what they will see when they get older.”
There will also be a special fête performance dedicated to Bob Marley and Black Caribbean traditions.
“Fête is a Caribbean word for party and it’s very big in Caribbean cultures,” Thomas said. “We’re going to have a fête at the end to celebrate Caribbeans.”
Thomas also wants to highlight the importance of art within Black culture and how art has traditionally been a significant source for passing down history.
“Art is a really strong foundation in the Black community, that is how we keep our history going,” she said. “It is how we keep our legacy going. Artifacts, poems, dances, songs—they go way back to our ancestors.”
Senior Ta’leah Henderson is playing musician SZA and will perform a dance number to the song, “Snooze.” Henderson enjoys dancing as it is an innovative form of self expression for her.
“It’s a way I can express myself without words,” she said.
Henderson believes that the assembly will be a great opportunity to highlight student’s creative skills and abilities.
“It’s important to really showcase the talent of our peers,” she said.
Junior Yaa Yaa Anti has been dancing since she was five years old and is performing for a second year in the assembly. Anti feels that the assembly will help people acknowledge Black history in general.
“Black history is everywhere, but it doesn’t really get that much recognition,” Anti said. “Most stuff that we do now or things that we do have been created by Black people. By showing that, it’s impactful.”
Sophomore Dior Franklin participated in the assembly last year, and is currently a part of the dancing ensemble.
“It’s a celebration of culture and what Black people have done for America and how impactful Black people are to people,” she said.
Franklin also thinks that Black History month isn’t being properly recognized in a broader way.
“Now, it feels like just another month and it doesn’t feel like we’re appreciating Black people,” she said. “The assembly will help us celebrate Black people since the performers and people being played are Black.”
Thomas wishes for historic Black contributions in popular culture to be acknowledged and appreciated eternally.
“Black History is forever because everyday we’re making history as Black people,” she said. “Black History is a forever legacy.”
