TOWAMENCIN- North Penn’s African American Awareness Club (AAAC) held its annual celebration of culture and unity on Thursday night in observation of Black History month. The festive evening of students, family, and friends followed a day of assemblies that brought together many different races to appreciate and experience African American culture.

“It portrays the power to unify and what can happen when people come together. I think it also represents a step forward because we’re inheriting the world. I think we’re setting a good tone,” stated AAAC executive board member Jonathan Kline. Judging by the strong and multicultural turnout, many people agreed with his assessment.

After two robust special assemblies during the day that were well received by the North Penn student body, the AAAC had plenty to be proud of as members prepared for the big evening. The night was full of fellowship, talent, and good food, and served as a way of creating a voice for the African American students of North Penn.

North Penn offers many different clubs and groups to join that offer the opportunity for students to share common interest with other students. AAAC is proud of its members contributions to the school community and the positive images it helps promote in the face of unflattering stereotypes. It is also a place where students can encourage and learn from each other.

“At North Penn it’s mostly white dominated, so I think we do need a club or a group dedicated to black people to bring us together and create unity,” shared executive board member Charnel Thompson.

“[North Penn School District] is white dominated and the whole area is white dominated and America is white dominated. I think it’s important that people of color and minorities voices are deeply heard,” shared Jonathan Kline.

The program began with the enthusiastic singing of the African American anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” performed by Ke’Nia Washington and Kalle Cooper, and was followed by personal poems, expressive dance, and spoken word poems. A short film addressed clichéd thinking while encouraging everyone to think differently. At the end of the night, after acknowledging those who helped make the program a success, many of the crowd stayed around for a long while to fellowship and converse and enjoy each other.

“Our black is too powerful to be ignored,” stated Charnel Thompson.