![IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Junior Zalie Mann performs “I Love to Cry at Weddings,” an ensemble piece from the fall musical Sweet Charity, to prospective students during the Fine Arts Showcase on Wednesday, Nov. 8. The showcase is a compilation of performances and demonstrations from each fine arts strand offered at McCallum. This show is put on so that prospective students can see if they are interested in joining an academy or major.
Sweet Charity originally ran the weekends of Sept. 28 and Oct. 8, but made a comeback for the Fine Arts Showcase.
“[Being at the front in the spotlight] is my favorite part of the whole dance, so I was super happy to be on stage performing and smiling at the audience,” Mann said.
Mann performed in both the musical theatre performance and dance excerpt “Ethereal,” a contemporary piece choreographed by the new dance director Terrance Carson, in the showcase. With also being a dance ambassador, Mann got to talk about what MAC dance is, her experience and answer any questions the aspiring arts majors and their parents may have.
Caption by Maya Tackett.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/53321803427_47cd17fe70_o-1-1200x800.jpg)
![SPREADING THE JOY: Sophomore Chim Becker poses with sophomores Cozbi Sims and Lou Davidson while manning a table at the Hispanic Heritage treat day during lunch of Sept 28. Becker is a part of the students of color alliance, who put together the activity to raise money for their club.
“It [the stand] was really fun because McCallum has a lot of latino kids,” Becker said. “And I think it was nice that I could share the stuff that I usually just have at home with people who have never tried it before.”
Becker recognizes the importance of celebrating Hispanic heritage at Mac.
“I think its important to celebrate,” Becker said. “Because our culture is awesome and super cool, and everybody should be able to learn about other cultures of the world.”
Caption by JoJo Barnard.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/53221601352_4127a81c41_o-1200x675.jpg)
Snodgrass: President Trump’s threat to defund schools over 1619 project is empty but concerning.
September 18, 2020
Slavery and its consequences have affected every aspect of the United States’ history, and therefore should be placed at the center of historical education. That’s the essence of The New York Times’ 1619 project, which many schools across the nation, especially in California, are planning to implement into their history curriculum.
The project has been controversial since its inception in 2019. Last Sunday, President Trump tweeted saying, “[The] Department of Education is looking at this. If so, [the schools using the 1619 project] will not be funded!” While this statement does not differentiate from his usual remarks, those who, like me, see immense value in the project are nonetheless left in shock.
With its sets of beautifully written and informative essays by such authors as Bryan Stevenson (founder of the Equal Justice Initiative), the 1619 project connects the dots between modern issues and past injustices; America’s wealth gap, lack of universal healthcare, problems with the prison system and more can all be traced back to enslavement and segregation.
This project displays the big picture of American history and how each and every event affects everything else. If taught in schools, it could help students realize how the aftermath of slavery is still felt today, which in turn would increase understanding of racial bias and injustices. This is vital in the midst of a surge in white supremacy across the nation. Why would we not teach students the truth in a cohesive and concise manner, especially when their own futures are at stake?
With a history steeped deeply in slavery and segregation, Mississippi, in particular, could benefit from the 1619 project. Our state possesses an unfortunate track record of hate and discrimination that continues to this day; this project has the potential to change this if executed quickly and appropriately in our schools.
Thankfully, it is not within President Trump’s power to defund schools that choose to use the 1619 project in their curriculum. However, the sentiment behind his statement still exists, and it exists as a worrisome one. We must ask ourselves why the president would believe the project to be harmful enough to deny children vital funding over it. The truth of the matter is that members of the Trump administration do not believe systemic racism exists, even while evidence points to the contrary. This denial of evidence gives a voice to white supremacists, creating an even greater need for the project to be taught.
The 1619 project is set to become an essential part of the United States’ history curriculum, and despite his statement, President Trump cannot legally stop it. This program will foster understanding and communication and should be implemented in schools nationwide.
This story was originally published on The Vision MSMS on September 16, 2020.
