ELTA GEMS
Celebrates Black History Month
Under the leadership of Chairperson Tonju Butler and Co-Chair Jenella Lymon, the Huntsville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Girls Empowering Myself Successfully (GEMS) performed the play “Unsung Heroes” on Sunday, February 28, 2010 at the Butler High School auditorium to an inspired audience. The play, “Unsung He-roes,” was written by Soror Ovetta Hobson specifically for GEMS. The play encouraged and educated the community about our rich “Black Heritage.” We are all quite familiar with the sto-ries of the pioneers, the liberators and the freedom fighters that we know all too well such as, great icons like Rosa Parks, Mary McLeod Bethune, Shirley Chisolm, Thurgood Marshall, Malcolm X and of course Martin King Jr. However, there are countless names that go unmentioned, but nonetheless had a significant impact on our past and our present. This was the inspiration behind this original play. The GEMS did an awesome job portraying defining moments in Black his-tory, including Plessy vs Ferguson, the deadly church bombing in Bir-mingham, Alabama, lynchings in the south, and Brown vs. the Board of Education and the day that then Governor George Wallace stood on the grounds of the campus of the University of Alabama vowing not to let blacks in. The play not only made us remember the harsh struggles of our ancestors but we remembered that we know how to get our groove on when the Chitlin Circuit was started, enjoying performances by entertainers such as Etta James (portrayed by Soror Carla Parker) and Billie Holliday (portrayed by Soror Lisa McAlpin). Special guest for the evening, the Delta Academy, performed an African dance to the song “African Joy” which was choreographed by Soror Raven Griffin. Another special treat of the evening was Delta Sigma Theta‟s part in history which was highlighted during different segments of the play.
Each year the Delta GEMS devotes a considerable amount of time learning from history and more specifically learn-ing from African American History. This year, not only did they learn about the past, they also looked to the future and at the same time educated the community. With just little over a month to prepare, the committee is to be ap-plauded for the time sacrificed (countless evenings and weekends with family) in order to get the GEMS ready for this performance. The GEMS would like to say thanks for all the kind words and cards that sent and look forward to see-ing you next year.
