A weekend of black history celebrations started Thursday nightat Brookhaven High School when students there took to the stage andput their own twists on the ongoing story.

A handful of students performed “The Story of a Dream,” ahalf-hour production of songs and skit comedy honoring the CivilRights Movement from Rose Parks’ defiance on the bus in Montgomery,Ala., to Barack Obama’s ascendancy last January. Deshauwn Arnold, a17-year-old junior at BHS, organized the play.

“I felt it was important for people to know where we’ve comefrom, as far as black history is concerned, and where God isleading us,” he said.

Similar messages will be delivered at other events in Brookhaventhis weekend as Black History Month comes to a close. BrookhavenElementary School will host its own event Friday at 1:30 p.m., andthe local chapter of the NAACP will celebrate the month Saturday at6:30 p.m. in the State Room.

Arnold said such events are important for telling the story ofblack history.

“In order to know where you’re going, you have to know where youcame from,” he said.

Keshun Brice, a 17-year-old junior at BHS who participated inThursday’s play, said Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s message of civildisobedience – not violence – is as important as ever.

“He showed us violence is not the solution, but today’s world isa different story. People are trying to solve their problems withviolence,” she said. “School is where violence starts.”

Sixteen-year-old Astasha Henderson said black history is nottalked about enough in schools.

“We should talk about the sacrifices they made for us to be ableto do the things we do,” she said. “It’s something people need toknow about.”