Athens Community Career Academy Student Ambassador of the Month Za’Carian Sims, a Clarke Central High School senior, poses in Room 30 at ACCA on Feb. 12. The ACCA Black History Month Program will be held on Feb. 26, and will feature speakers, poems and dances. “A lot of this generation doesn’t really know the full history, and Black history is American history, so it’s important for us to celebrate where we are as a nation and how we need to continue to progress forward,” ACCA Event Planning Committee member Candice Jones said. Photo by Peter Atchley
The Athens Community Career Academy’s Black History Month Program will be held on Feb. 26, highlighting local Black history and culture.
Athens Community Career Academy will host its Black History Month Program on Feb. 26, at 11 a.m., featuring select speakers, musical performances and dancers. AACA Students and the Event Planning Committee worked together to plan the event, led by Workplace Development Coordinator Halo Smart.
University of Georgia Department of Educational Theory and Practice professor Dr. Morgan Faison will be speaking and Clarke Central High School senior Wayne Spencer will be singing, joined by other performances like praise dance.
“Celebrating Black History Month in any shape, form or fashion, is important to me first and foremost, as an African American, myself,” Event Planning Committee member Candice Jones said. “Throughout the entire culture of our country, it’s important to know the contributions that African Americans have (made), despite adversity and despite oppression.”
“Throughout the entire culture of our country, it’s important to know the contributions that African Americans have (made), despite adversity and despite oppression.”
— Candice Jones,
ACCA Event Planning Committee member
The Event Planning Committee are joined by the ACCA Student Ambassadors of the Month, Za’Carian Sims and Marilin Cruz-Morales. In December of 2024, Sims and Cruz-Morales first thought of the Divine Nine, a group of nine historically Black Greek-letter organizations at the University of Georgia, to perform at the program.
An infographic displaying three featured performances at the upcoming Athens Community Career Academy’s Black History Month Program is shown above. The event was planned by Student Ambassadors of the Month Za’Carian Sims and Marilin Cruz-Morales, with it taking place on Feb. 26 with several performances. “More than ever, all the people of color, we need to rise up, and we need to take a stand,” ACCA Student Ambassador of the Month Za’Carian Sims, a Clarke Central High School senior, said. “We need to make ourselves feel seen, and a way for us to feel seen would definitely be Black History Month.” Graphic by Peter Atchley
“I’m most excited to watch the Divine Nine stroll because I’ve never seen it in person. I’m excited for the steps to the different step routines,” Sims said.
Fellow student ambassador and CCHS senior Jayda Shelton has helped plan the event the last two years. She believes the program will positively impact all students with a balance of performers representing both CCHS and Cedar Shoals High School.
“I hope this (program) creates a sense of belonging for students, making them feel welcome, (letting) them know that ‘you’re not alone,’” Shelton said. “That’s why we do programs like (the BHM program), everyone (gets) a chance to feel welcome.”
Outside of the Black History Month Program, ACCA is celebrating Black History Month with a door-decorating competition that will clue students into the trivia questions that will be present throughout the program. Jones feels that the program is going to highlight Black culture and history all around Athens.
“We hope that not only will the students feel celebrated no matter what (their) cultural background is, but also understand who we all are, and learn to appreciate other cultures that may be different from your own,” Jones said. “Black history is American history, and it’s important to understand that history.”
