By Kimberly Hopson
L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Emily C. Watkins Elementary held a very lively Black History Month program Thursday afternoon. The program focused on honoring African-Americans, both real and fictional, who made their mark in film, music and television. The program was hosted by Tiran Roberson and Ashley DeLeon and began with a rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing”.
Immediately after the introduction, the school’s kindergarten and first-grade classes began a re-enactment of the historic Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. march. The children marched around the school cafeteria while holding handmade picket signs and singing “We Shall Overcome.” The rest of the program honored black history-makers with 13 short tributes based scenes from movies and music videos.
Ashley Munguia and Caydence Strode performed a charming version of the song “Almost There” from Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog,” complete with costumes and acting. Nic’Kyra Joseph, Modisty Reynolds and A’Yaree’ Taylor stole the show in their shimmering, bright purple dresses modeled after the actresses from the movie “Dreamgirls.” There was also a very creative dance number based on the iconic Michael Jackson song, “Thriller.” The scene featured Traywand Breaux in an improvised version of Jackson’s red leather jacket and the school’s second- and third-grade classes as cute, but harmless, zombies.