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Published Saturday, February 04, 2012 in Local

Photo by Rebecca Leftwich

Wanda Pettaway, right, was represented in Smokey Road Middle School's "Museum of Success" by student Roneca Smith, left, who performed a sketch as the school’s first female African-American assistant principal.

Smokey Road Middle School celebrates Black History Month

By Rebecca Leftwich

The Newnan Times-Herald

Poetry, music, dance and a museum full of influential world citizens highlighted Smokey Road Middle School's Black History program Friday.

"What is your role in positive change?" asked Student Leadership Council member Jocquey Jordan, who opened the "Smokey Road's Museum to Success" assembly on behalf of the school's Black History Committee.

Retired Smokey Road teacher Ronnie Jones played the part of museum curator Alpha S. Phi during the Museum of Success Showcase, but he was one of only a smattering of adults who had a hand in the program. From the combined chorus group's "Lift Every Voice and Sing" to Khalia Justiss' reading of the Jo Klein poem "When I Look Into the Mirror" to the Indoor Percussion Ensemble's moving tribute, "Faith, Hope, and Love," the show belonged to the students.

(To view or purchase photos from this event, visit http://photos.times-herald.com/mycapture and navigate to Events for the photo gallery.)

"It is an honor to lead a school that promotes such strong student leadership," said Dr. Laurie Barron, Smokey Road's principal. "To have students both lead and perform in a program that celebrates our students' successes while respecting each other's differences is a strong testament to the high quality of students and staff at Smokey Road."

Museum characters came to life as Princess Diana (Ashlee Grace Chitwood), Mahatma Gandhi (Daniel Bump), Oprah Winfrey (Breyonna Sasser), John F. Kennedy (Jacob Bryant), President Barack Obama (Jay Burston) and Michael Jackson (Travis Johnson) spoke about their lives and contributions to society.

Smokey Road administrator Wanda Pettaway even saw herself in the museum, portrayed by Roneca Smith as the school's first African-American female assistant principal.

"You know, basically there is an ounce of good in everyone and that ounce of good should measure out the bad," Smith said, quoting Pettaway. "I'm just saying..."

"Black Butterfly," introduced by Edna Bridges, spoke through student dance about the painful and difficult changes the butterfly endures to achieve beauty.

"We are ever changing into butterflies that go where we please and please where we go," Bridges said.

Jones closed out the program as Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror" played.

"This place was built for seeing, exploring, learning and empowering," Jones said, holding a mirror to reflect the faces of those attending the event. "Today... this museum was built especially for you, where there were no areas sectioned off."

Still in character, Jones urged students to use the mirror for self-evaluation, to reexamine their pathways in life and to change the world.

"This program was yet another example of why I am so proud to be a part of the Smokey Road family," Barron said.