On February 26th, Mr. Burke led three Black History Month assemblies in the auditorium.  Students from freshman to seniors and from regular to advanced gathered together to learn and appreciate the history of African Americans in our great nation.

The first assembly was held during 2nd period, and was a tribute to African American poetry and sports.  Mrs. Fitch’s humanities student Tiesha Torrence performed an original poem about influential African Americans, including Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, and Martin Luther King, Jr.  Two more of Mrs. Fitch’s students read “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou and “Death Be Not Proud” by John Donne for the group.

After the poetry, Donovan Rowell, Lionel Inanzala, and Delquan Thomas gave brief histories of three famous and influential African American athletes.  First was Rowell who told the story of baseball star Jackie Robison who began to play baseball when he was in the military.  Next, Inanzala presented the great football player Ernie Davis whose career was cut short by a diagnosis with Leukemia.  Finally, Thomas talked about Louisville native and famed boxer Muhammad Ali.

To wrap up the 2nd period festivities, Mr. Burke showed a few short films that made the lives of African Americans a threefold process: where we have been, where we are, and where we are going today.  First, segments of the “I Have a Dream” speech by Martin Luther King Jr. displayed very clearly where African Americans have been just a mere half century ago.  Next, a photo montage of the slavery days showed just how inhumanely African Americans were treated in this nation’s past.  Then a similar presentation of the Civil Rights era reiterated the messages of King’s speech.  Finally, a music video of one of President Obama’s speeches brought African American history full circle with its message of “yes we can.”

In 3rd period, Mr. Burke presented a different avenue to explore the history of African Americans. The spotlight was on Mr. Walker and the digital music class.  They played many songs that celebrated the stages of African American history in this nation.  Their most notable number was by far “Swing Low Sweet Chariot.”

4th period was an assembly of celebrities.  The Chief of the Louisville Police Robert White and Dondi Albritton, the Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms division of the Justice Department, came and spoke to the students.

After a presentation of tokens of our appreciation by Mr. Sexton, Chief White began to address the question of what will it take to get where we want to be as grown adults.  He spelled out two important factors towards obtaining our goals, those being to have confidence in ourselves and also be prepared for opportunities.  Chief White urged the students to “minimize your weaknesses and capitalize on your strengths” and to not compare yourself to others because everyone has different talents. Chief White also spoke very passionately about making good choices.

“There is a big difference between respect and popularity… popularity is a fad, it comes and goes; you are only popular until the next decision comes,” said Chief White.  “By doing the right thing, you earn respect.”

Chief White also gave the students keys to success with “the easy As” of being polite and courteous, having solutions, and paying attention.  He also stressed how these attributes combined with a person who takes interest in you can get you very far in life.

“I didn’t become police chief and Mr. Sexton didn’t become principal because of our own merit alone,” he audaciously claimed.

According to Chief White, the key to becoming what you want in life is having the right attitude.  He urged all students to examine their attitudes and act now to change them if change is necessary warning that habits we have now will carry over to our adult lives and that now is the easiest time to change.

“What you are doing right now leads to what you will become tomorrow. Guaranteed. Unless you make a conscious change, you will have an outcome you are not satisfied with,’ Chief White said at the conclusion of his talk.

Mr. Albritton echoed many of Chief White’s statements about doing the right thing now because of the consequences later.  As part of the government, Mr. Albritton had to pass a polygraph test to get his job, and all those he hires also must pass the polygraph.

“More people, well qualified applicants, fail the polygraph because of the questions about drugs than anything else,” he claimed.

Another big factor that hurts people later in life he said is credit.  Being in debt can lead to blackmail, and consequently, many people also fail the polygraph test for a government job because they have a bad credit history.  Mr. Albritton urged the students to watch their choices, especially with credit and drugs, because the decisions made on those issues will follow us for the rest of our lives.

“Everything has consequences, either good or bad, and they increase with age,” said Chief White.  “Make sure you make your decisions, because they are going to lead to your consequences, not anyone else’s.”

While these assemblies arranged by Mr. Burke were meant to be an interactive lesson in African American history, they taught much more than that.  They taught lessons in life, lessons that all students at Eastern can benefit from and directly apply to their day to day lives.