The very young demonstrated every voice should be lifted up during a program at Dana Road Elementary School.

On Tuesday, the school’s second annual Black History program was held, and children representing several nationalities participated.

There were even some portions of the program when students spoke in Spanish.

“Some of our children at the school are bi-lingual, but their parents aren’t so we wanted everyone to feel included,” lead teacher at the school and organizer of the Black History program Dr. Uretka Callon said.

During the nearly hour-long educational program, which highlighted Rosa Parks, Barack Obama and Martin Luther King, Jr. attendees listened as students gave brief historical accounts on these three African Americans and songs were performed by the school’s Leader in Me choir.

“We have been practicing the songs for three weeks,” choir teacher Eleana Davis said, adding that rehearsals were held everyday.

Students were chosen for the choir based on behavior and their participation in the music program, Davis said.

Songs performed during the program were “Lift Every Voice,” “Back of the Bus,” “Free at Last,” “Yes We Can” and “Reach Out and Touch.”

During “Reach Out and Touch” all those who were gathered in the school’s gymnasium held hands and sang along with the students.

Prior to the start of the program, 9-year-old Ocean Taylor said he was excited about the program and its significance to the community.

“I’m thinking what is going to happen is that the program is going to be very important, and what my friend said is that the whole City of Vicksburg is going to be here,” Taylor said.

And Taylor’s friend was right, city of Vicksburg dignitaries were in attendance, and included the Vicksburg Chief of Police Walter Armstrong and Sheriff Martin Pace along with Aldermen Willis Thompson and Michael Mayfield.

Taylor added that he also thought Tuesday’s program was vital to the community and hoped others would see the importance of Dana Road.

“Our school is already kind of shining, but this will make it just shine more,” he said.

Taylor also wanted to get a word in about his teachers, he said.

“Mrs. Dill and Mrs. Norris are excellent. Sometimes we don’t act very well, but they help us get it all together,” Taylor said.