The Meetinghouse was packed with students and their families on Saturday, February 20 for Black History Family Fun Night. The evening began with the sixty students in the GSFS chorus singing, “If You’re Out There” by John Legend.

Parents Association Co-Presidents Shayna Bayard and Janise Lee, organizers of the event, brought the very talented storyteller Queen Nur, President of the National Association of Black Storytellers, to entertain the audience with several interactive stories accompanied by drummer and percussionist Sangue Mbacké, who is originally from Senegal.

Using call and response, Queen Nur told several stories, including a story about the difference between sweet potatoes and yams, one about a boy who outwits a monster with his drumming ability, and one about farm animals coming together to dig out a sweet potato. Woven throughout the stories were themes of cooperation, celebrations of difference and effecting positive change. Check out the video below to see the amazing response she received from those in attendance! A mixed-age group of students played a variety of percussion instruments to accompany her final story. Queen Nur ended with the message that we are all storytellers and we all have important stories to tell.

After the entertainment families came together for a soul food potluck and the sharing of stories continued over dinner.