'Dream On': Black History Month celebrated with music, poetry

A Cape Girardeau church honored trailblazers of the past and present in its Black History Month program on Sunday, sponsored by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Citywide Celebration Committee.

Held at the St. James AME Church in Cape Girardeau, the program featured spoken and musical tributes in the form of choir singing, poetry reading and an original song.

Nia Johnson performs her original composition, "Dream On," during the National Black History Month program Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013 at St. James AME Church in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

Nia Johnson, a 14-year-old student at Cape Girardeau Central Junior High School, performed her song "Dream On," which she said was written about the journey from a dark place to a brighter one.

"I've been singing around different places," Johnson said. "It always feels good to share this message and see the encouragement of other people."

Debra Mitchell-Braxton, event organizer and member of the church, has been organizing events in remembrance of King and Black History Month for three decades. Braxton said it is important not only to remember the past, but also to celebrate it.

"There are so many historic contributions left out by not only African-Americans, but women and other minorities," Mitchell-Braxton said. "There just comes a time when you realize that these celebrations should go on, so I just picked up the baton and I really enjoy it"

The Rev. Joseph Cotton sings "Oh Lord I Want You to Help Me" during the National Black History Month program Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013 at St. James AME Church in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

At the end of the program, the Celebration Committee took donations that Mitchell-Braxton said will be used to fund future programs and other causes that "encourage equality."

The committee's most recent donation was a $500 scholarship to Quitman McBride III, a former Cape Girardeau Central High School student now in his senior year at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Mitchell-Braxton said McBride always was a willing participant in past Black History Month programs, and the committee was more than willing to give back.

"When we heard of his need, we felt that it was fitting to use our money to help him because Dr. King believed in equality in education," Mitchell-Braxton said. "That scholarship will help him pay for his room and board."

St. James church will continue its celebration of equality next month, hosting a similar program for Women's History Month at 6 p.m. March 17.

srinehart@semissourian.com

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