A Celebration of Culture at OHS
By Jack Fenner
It’s no question that significant arts made by Black people have had a tremendous impact on Black culture itself. Whether it be Kendrick Lamar, Langston Hughes or Louis Armstrong, all forms of art make their mark. Even here at Owasso High School, some of our own Black students are expressing their same love for the arts in many ways. So, in celebration of Black History Month, let's check in with some of these individuals.
One of these students is ShayLa Blake, president of the poetry club and one of our staff members at the Owasso Rampage. For ShayLa, poetry is where her talents shine.
“Poetry is my source of confidence,” says Blake.
When reading our creative writing pieces in class, this is extremely evident. Her confidence when writing shines through in all of her pieces with the way in which she writes them. While ShayLa can write stanzas upon stanzas flawlessly, I sit on the other side of the room, with my brain firing on all cylinders, struggling to write just one.
It’s truly impressive how well ShayLa can write poetry and she even draws inspiration from some other famous black artists.
One of her inspirations is Maya Angelou, a well-known poet and activist, whose works gained her national recognition. Another is Kendrick Lamar, a rapper and songwriter.
Another student who has expressed his love for the arts is Tre Lewis. Many of us know Tre from his amazing singing performances every year at the talent show. In fact, I still think I’m yet to attend a talent show that he hasn’t won.
For Tre, music is a big part of his life. He dedicates a lot of time to it and it truly does show.
Lewis, speaking on this topic, said “I think the fact that music is universal is what makes it so impactful to me. I’ve heard and sung plenty of songs, even from different languages, and they all give off their own unique feelings. It’s like saying someone may not remember what you said but they’ll remember how you made them feel. I think that's what makes music so great.”
His talents in singing aren’t just limited to the stage at school though, in college he will be majoring in worship leadership so his talent’s will be aptly used there.
Some of Tre’s inspirations are Sam Cooke and Fantasia Barrino who are two extremely talented individuals when it comes to creating music.
Lewis says, “Fantasia because she sings from her heart and in everything she sings; it's like she’s telling a story and Sam Cooke because of his backstory and life.”
These are only a couple of the many talented Black students we have here at Owasso High School. Their love for the arts shows through in the effort they put into their work, so much so that it almost seems they are ready to go out and make the same impact that their own inspirations have made on the world.