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Black History month activities at Southside High School concluded on Wednesday, Feb. 28 with the announcement of this year’s winners of the Black History Month art contest. The theme was cultural heritage and diversity. Six students submitted their work which could be two or three-dimensional, poetry, essays, or videos. First place went to Kavinha Brodi, second place to Chaneasia Boone, and third place to Dynasia Jones in the two or three-demensional category. Entrants in the poetry category were Zailen Harvey for “Weird” and Emily Mauser for “Culture” The lone entry in the essay category was from Michelle Brown entitled “What Black History Means to Me.”

“It has been a very exciting month for us,” said Southside High School history teacher, Raven Cathey. “In an attempt to make things more unique and different this year, we organized a student-led Black History Month committee, which researched and came up with facts and stories about influential Black people which the students announced daily over the PA system. They also helped with the planning of our field trip to Washington, which included a bus tour of the Freedom Trail, the P.S. Jones Alumni Museum, and the Washington Waterfront Underground Railroad Museum. And, of course, todays’ art contest.”

Support for the Black History Month art contest was provided once again this year by the local chapter of the Beaufort County NAACP. This included cash awards of $100, $75, and $50 for first, second, and third place winners in the art contest. “Part of the goal of NAACP is to enlighten awareness of Black History Month and to open peoples’ minds and hearts to recognize that everyone is important,” said chapter president Aaron Lewis. “By supporting the art contest here at Southside, it is our hope that it will help the students and adults see the contributions that Blacks have made to our nation and even the world. We even heard some comments today from the students asking if it would be possible to have a month long observance to acknowledge the accomplishments of Latinos.”

Others in attendance on Wednesday included Beaufort County commissioner Ed Booth, Beaufort County School Board member, Eltha Booth, NAACP first VP, James Smallwood, NAACP secretary, Joyce Jackson O’Neal, and NAACP treasurer, Georgia Smallwood.