Parkway Peace Choir
Posted on Tue, Dec 23, 2008
Evening of peace and justice at Parkway’s ‘Project Word‘
By Marsha Cooper Stroman; Guest Writer
If it’s peace and social justice one is seeking, Ethyl McGee, Principal of Parkway Peace and Social Justice High School, 7500 Germantown Avenue, shares them daily with her students and staff. McGee and Rachel King-Davis, Student Community Development Center director at Parkway, permit students to be a part of social justice and how they want to show it in the community. “They are about showing the world how they make a difference,” stated King-Davis.As part of that effort, students and staff held “Project Word” on Thursday, December 4, an evening of storytelling, dancing, poetry, group sessions, knitting, healthy food and fun activities.
Keynote speaker Celeste Zapalla, of Gold Star Families for Peace, shared stories about families who have loved ones in Iraq. “Young people are the solutions today, they are the peacemakers today, stop funding this war, which has become a business in this country,” stated Zapalla, who shared the story of losing her son, Sherwood, in the Iraq war.
Zapalla and 10 other women unsuccessfully tried to speak with President Bush outside his ranch in Texas some time ago to address the war, her son’s death and other issues, however, they were denied. They turned to the Pentagon, only to be ushered away by guards. Zapalla shared that war is never the answer, only a failure while reflecting on words from civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “I’ll stick with love because hatred is too great a burden to bear,” quoted Zapalla.
Parents and students could be found in a “Peaceful Knitting Circle” led by Ms. Mariana, knitting limb covers for amputees who lost a limb in the war, while the Rebecca Davis Dance Company provided stories of genocide in Rwanda through dance from stories told to them by children who survived the massacres there.
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Yomi, an African storyteller from Lagos, Nigeria, shared stories about community, social justice, and peace with his musical instruments, including the xylophone and the drums. “Love is good, we live what we say. Today we have peace,” shared Yomi.
The crowded room of students, parents, and staff received history on social justice issues. Among those in attendance was Elaine Bundy, mother to Jermika, 17, an eleventh grade student at the school. “This is a nice event, I am glad I came tonight, other schools should have this kind of thing where diverse people can get together for social justice and peace,” said Bundy, adding, “Mrs. McGee is an awesome principal.” One of the highlights in the program was McGee inviting the audience to accompany her on a fast against murmuring and complaining. “It’s easy to do when you see what others have endured,” stated McGee.
Songs from the civil rights era could be heard in the corridors from the Parkway Peace Choir, who sang “Don’t Cry,” We Shall Overcome,” and “My Time Has Come.” The choir consisted of Parkway students Shanel Taylor, Saniqua Vaughn, Zana Seymour, Tiara Tyler, Destance Keith, Chanell Coles, and Sherne Williams, with Ashley Stanley and Malika Brown directing.
Monique Neal
Sessions on oppression, the Holocaust, foster parenting, war, and other social justice and peace issues were held with students reciting their original poems and songs. Biheyra Graham, 15, beautifully recited her original poem “Peace, Please,” Brandon Dobbs, 15, performed an a cappella rendition of the late Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” and Rodney Crawford, 15, recited his original “Why I Don’t Look Like You,” bringing applause from staff and students, including math teacher Mindy Nobel, and classmate, Zana Stroman, 15.
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