On Tuesday, February 18 in Swor Auditorium, the Mississippi College Multicultural Student Association (MSA) held a moving performance entitled ‘From Oppression to Progression’. The program, directed by MSA member Xavian Branch, consisted of skits, sermons, famous speeches, musical performances, and a fashion show. The performances highlighted the cultural and spiritual impact that African Americans had on the United States.
Program host Damien Thomas opens the production with a greeting. Thomas is a mental health consultant and active member of several professional organizations in the field of counseling. (Photo Credit: Jill Sanchez)
A skit opens the night. The skit, titled “The Oppression Act,” demonstrated five African American students who struggle to achieve their dreams when met with hateful speech and stereotypes. (Photo Credit: Jill Sanchez)
Jackson State University student Tyren Thompson presents a trombone solo to “Sentimental Mood” by Duke Ellington. (Photo Credit: Jill Sanchez)
MSA member Jaala Hemphill performs the second skit of the night. The skit, called “Mental Health,” raised awareness about African Americans’ mental health struggles. (Photo Credit: Jill Sanchez)
Actors in the “Mental Health” skit bring to light the mental, social, physical, and academic balance struggles of being a student. (Photo Credit: Jill Sanchez)
MC student Gabriel Williams performs a moving and worshipful mime routine. Williams left the crowd in tears and in applause. (Photo Credit: Jill Sanchez)
An MSA member models a 90s look for the program’s fashion show. (Photo Credit: Jill Sanchez)
MSA vice president Xavian Branch leads the crowd through a sermon. The sermon highlighted the role of religion in African American history. (Photo Credit: Jill Sanchez)
Hemphill, alongside other MC students, sings Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Yet to Come.” Along the stage, MC students held signs with derogatory comments – but as the song progressed, the signs were turned around to show the opposite word. (Photo Credit: Jill Sanchez)
Kaydence Patton sings with Hemphill. Also pictured is MSA event coordinator Gabriel Hodge. The sign Hodge held read “poor” before being flipped around. (Photo Credit: Jill Sanchez)
The cast gathers for the program’s end. To cap off the performances, Thomas greeted the crowd one more time to thank the audience for their attendance, participation, and feedback. (Photo Credit: Jill Sanchez)
Program director Xavian Branch brings program participants together to thank them for their involvement. (Photo Credit: Jill Sanchez)
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