Paul Knox Middle School celebrates the differences in unity during Black History Month

Mar. 4—Monday, Feb. 27, was a chance to recognize the "too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every endeavor of life throughout our history."

These words from Casey Rogers, principal at Paul Knox Middle School in North Augusta, opened an hour-long celebration of Black History that had performances by the middle school band, orchestra, choir and dancers; and a message of unity made stronger by diversity that was given by an Omega Psi Phi out of Bamberg County.

"Celebrating Black History Month: As We Come Together in Unity and Strength" was the first face-to-face Black History program that Paul Knox Middle School has held since the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was a chance for the school to "ring with harmonies of liberty as we all come together in unity and in strength," said Rogers, his words a nod to James Weldon Johnson, a poet of the Harlem Renaissance.

Brandon Jamison, of Denmark, S.C., in Bamberg County, preached the synergy that comes from a unity comprised of differences.

"It seems like the world wants us to say, 'Hey, in order to be unified, you must be the same person.' I say no, not so. I need you to take pride in who you are. You do that by recognizing and appreciating your differences," he told the students. "After we recognize and accept our differences, we can move forward in showing unity and in becoming united."

Jamison is himself a first-generation graduate, having earned his Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from South Carolina State University. He graduated summa cum laude and went on to work at Savannah River Nuclear Solutions. He's involved with the NAACP's National Society of Black Engineers and is a member of the historically African American Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

Jamison had a message for parents and educators, too: "Mold these young minds in such a way that they respect each other, but most of all, that they know who they are and respect themselves," he said, later adding, "They're taught from us. What we teach our young individuals, that's what they're going to instill in themselves. When a child leaves your presence, they should be leaving in a better condition."

He urged the students, sixth- through eighth-graders, to be the "doers" in this world, not the ones who opine and shout and claim to have the solution but never do get involved.

"Stop pointing your fingers and do the work," he said. "Learn more about yourself and your ancestors. Learn what makes you so special. Start taking pride in yourself."

Doing so, said Jamison, would lead to their becoming a whole, a unit, "that is made of many diverse parts"; it would lead to their having a collective power made all the more forceful for their individual, diverse strengths that feed into it, he said — just like the parts to their own Paul Knox orchestra.

That orchestra played the African American hymn, "Swing Low Sweet Chariot," a song whose chords have now been made famous by the likes of B.B. King and Eric Clapton but whose composition is original to a Choctaw freedman of early Reconstruction.

Jamison invited to the floor Lamarcus Gaines and Keandre Collins, fellow Omega Psi Phis at Paine College, and the two gave the students their own performance of dance — which Jamison also took part in for a few turns and to the students' loudly expressed enjoyment.

The kids "are trying to find themselves, especially at this age," said Wimberly Yon, an art teacher at Paul Knox and lead on organizing the program. "Middle school is a really weird age. They're in this phase of trying to find themselves, so being different — I mean, that's really what it's all about. They're all different."

Added Principal Rogers, "It's important to celebrate our uniqueness and what makes us special. Our uniqueness is what can become our strength."