The Performance Hall was temporarily set for the college’s own version of “Showtime at the Apollo,” for the ninth annual Rhythms and Sounds of Poetry on Feb. 5. Employees, students and guests came together to celebrate the Harlem Renaissance for this year’s event. The audience was treated to the poetry and music from 1917 to 1935, the era when Harlem was in its heyday as a thriving cultural center.
Selena Stewart-Alexander, English professor, organizes the annual event, Brookhaven College’s link to the Dallas County Community College District’s Black History Month celebrations and activities. The program combined music, literature and tidbits of history. Bill Sigsbee, world languages professor, acted as co-host again this year, introducing the many performers along with Selena.
Chris Cyriaque, world languages professor, and Hazel Carlos, English professor, each shared some of the poetry of Langston Hughes. Roy Allen, music professor, played a quick selection of music on his saxophone. Hurshel Burton, English professor, read a passage from Richard Wright, sang and played his guitar. Narvia McDaniel, department assistant in the Automotive Department, gave an interpretive dance performance. Adrien Cuellar-McGuire and Ricky Reeves also read a Langston Hughes poem. Sam Govea, assistant dean for distance education, gave a reading and performed again along with one of the groups of students delivering a variety of readings and interpretations.
More than 150 people gathered for this year’s performance. The audience had a chance to participate by identifiying famous people and places associated with the Harlem renaissance. Selena’s son Malik read one of the ‘Who am I?’ pieces and a poem. He’s taken part in several of the past events, as have most of this year’s performers.
