Cheers filled the Skyline High School auditorium on February 26, 2026 as Skyline’s African American Humanities students delivered a stunning performance celebrating African American history and culture.

Every year, the students of Skyline’s African American Humanities class write and perform a student-made performance centered around a theme. This year’s theme was resistance, perseverance, and the celebration of us. 

“It kind of ended up that way from what we were all experiencing, seeing what was in the news and the state of our country,” said Nana-Kwesi Kwakeye (‘26). “What I really believe is that everyone, no matter what, has to persevere through the hard times of now.”

Everything that you saw on stage during the performance was thought of, designed, and choreographed by the students.“We looked at a whiteboard for a good few days before anything started, and then we started putting things on the whiteboard,” said Kwakeye. “I started throwing things and they stuck, but it was overall a collaborative effort.” 

The fact that it is student-led is also integral to the performance’s success. High schoolers are much more likely to take a message to heart if it comes from a friend or member of their community. 

“I think that student voice is integral to building community in Skyline, and opening up that community to be accepting to hear what’s being said up on stage,” said Kathy Mackercher, Skyline history and humanities teacher. “When you’re looking at the history of literature and are through African American culture, the power is that the message is coming from their friends instead of coming from a teacher, it comes from a place that is open and honest and portrays the message in a heartfelt way.”

Before the class started the planning process they were taught all about African American history, from the first slave ships landing on American soil, to the Civil Rights movement, to the Black Lives Matter movement. “They learned about art, cultures, and history,” said Skyline African American humanities teacher Tonya Whitehorn. “The show is a product of what they’ve learned.”

The performance also works as an advertisement for the class itself, bringing the possibility of taking this class to the entire student body. The performance answers questions about the course. “Yeah 100% I think that they may be curious about what Humanities is, so the performance helps to answer what the class is about,” said Whitehorn.

Students who take the class themselves are the most impacted. “The goal of this class has always been to make sure that students are thinkers,” Whitehorn said. “We make sure they ask questions.”

While the impact on Skyline’s community is hard to measure, students have felt a growth in love and support after the show.  “The love I’ve been shown and given after the show, we’ve all become closer through this performance,” said Kwakeye. “I sure hope a difference has been made.”