Fort Deposit Elementary School hosted its annual Black History program Thursday, Feb. 26. Its theme, “A Journey Through Black History,” embodied an immersive experience pairing students, faculty and staff with community volunteers in a living presentation that wowed guests and went viral on social media.

Lowndes County Public Schools superintendent Samita Jeter expressed her pride in the school for hosting an experience that “has truly inspired audiences far beyond our school walls.”

“Watching this program go viral has been a powerful reminder that when our students are given the opportunity to shine, they rise to the occasion with excellence, confidence and purpose,” she said. “The creativity, poise and passion displayed throughout the program reflected not only a celebration of Black history, but a deep understanding of its impact on our present and future.”

The school’s principal, Latonya Love, described the many facets of the emphasis, which included elaborate decorations where the walls told the story of Black people who made a difference in their community and around the world.

“This was something that just happened to come together,” Love said. “It was so magical in the moment. We wanted to push farther, not just creating a Black history moment, but creating history ourselves.”

Visitors and students arriving for the program found themselves immersed in the emphasis before they entered the auditorium, Love explained.

“We wanted [to decorate] the hallways leading up to the program,” Love said. “Ms. [Marsha] Steiner, did a hallway that was dedicated to slavery time. She came up with who was going to participate on the hallway, because it was interactive.”

The school’s media specialist Kelsie Garrett developed a wax museum theme for the second hallway leading to the gymnasium where the program was held.

“She created scenes and thought outside the box, using poster boards [to describe the person portrayed,” Love said. “That’s when it came alive.”