By Melissa Robinson
Contributing Editor 

  Dutchtown Elementary School in Hampton culminated Black History Month with its annual program, held last Friday, this year titled “Celebrating Our Past Present and Future.”

The Dutchtown Elementary School Chorus opens their Black History Program by singing I’ll Make the Difference. Photo by Melissa Robinson

  Baseball legend and trailblazer James “Red” Moore, along with acclaimed author and historian Jim Riley, were the featured guest speakers.

  Moore, now 96, was a Negro League Baseball player who played for the Newark Eagles, the Baltimore Giants and the Atlanta Black Crackers. He was inducted into the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame in 2006 and lives in Atlanta. Riley is the one of the foremost authorities on the history of the Negro League, and as an award-winning author, he has written several books on the subject.

  Throughout the program, students provided entertainment including the singing of Lift Every Voice, the African-American National Anthem and an original poem titled “Africa” was recited by student Zaniya Berry. The Dutchtown Elementary School Chorus sang I’ll Make the Difference and Shaneil Davis, from the Shiloh Baptist Church Dance Team, performed an inspirational dance. Teachers Jasmine Hughey and Lyric Schwadron, along with the Pre-K students sang When You Believe and students also portrayed figures in history from Harriet Tubman to President Barrack Obama.

  The grand finale came when students in the Dutchtown Divas Step Team did a rousing “Tribute to Old School Music” followed by singing from the Dutchtown Adult Chorus.

  Emcee for the event was Dr. Terry O. Oatts, principal of Dutchtown High School.