February 7, 2025

East Mississippi Community College will host Black History month programs on its Golden Triangle and Scooba campuses that are free and open to the public.

GOLDEN TRIANGLE CAMPUS

On Feb. 20, singer/songwriter Anitra Jay will present “A Tour of Black Voices in American History” beginning at 12:15 p.m. in the lobby of the student union on the Golden Triangle campus.

An acoustic soul musician and poet, Jay’s performance will celebrate the history of black voices through song and storytelling.

“Anitra takes you back in time celebrating diversity in our nation's rich history with art forms such as the breath-taking poetry of Maya Angelou and Langston Hughes to the stories of Harriet Tubman, as well as modern historical voices like Nina Simone and Ella Fitzgerald,” said LeAnn Alexander, dean of students for EMCC’s Golden Triangle campus. “Attendees will experience a memorable show that both informs and inspires while celebrating the beauty of diversity.”

SCOOBA CAMPUS

On Feb. 27, the Scooba campus will host the play “We Shall Not Be Moved: Courage in Mississippi” presented by New Stage Theatre in Jackson. The play, which begins at noon in the Stennis Hall Auditorium, is a Mississippi coming of age story inspired by courageous acts during the Civil Rights Movement such as James Meredith’s 1962 integration of Ole Miss, the lunch counter sit-ins of the 1960’s and the 1964 Freedom Summer.

Last year, New Stage Theatre presented the play “Anne & Emmett” on the Scooba campus for Black History Month. That play centered around imaginary conversations between historical figures Anne Frank and Emmett Till, both victims of intolerance who lost their lives at the age of 14.

“The play was phenomenal and the performances were so powerful that I invited New Stage Theatre back again this year,” said Lapari Morant, who, among other things, serves as the associate dean of students for EMCC’s Scooba campus. “We are really looking forward to another great play again this year.”