The Mississippi Golden Triangle Alumni Association of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority held its annual Taste of the Soul event at the Travis Outlaw Center Sunday.
The annual event offered entertainment, fellowship and free soul food to a nearly full center. Several organizations participated, including the Mississippi State University Black Voices Gospel Choir, the Armstrong Middle School Advanced Drama class and other AMS students. Stephen Middleton gave the keynote address, and the event was closed with an African Kings and Queens Stroll.
According to the association’s president Gwen B. Ware, the event has gone on for more than a decade in commemoration of Black History Month.
“It’s a known thing, you need to know your past in order to appreciate your future,” Ware said.
Ware added that some local businesses, including Vowell’s and Beef O’Brady’s had helped to put the event together.
“Everybody’s been so receptive,” Ware said of the community. “It’s just hard work and dedication.”
The AMS theatre students presented two short plays, one about Jackie Robinson, the first black Major League Baseball player, and one about the black influence on almost all American music.
Armstrong Drama teacher Sarah Staggers said the plays would also be presented at the AMS Black History program Tuesday, and that this is the second year the AMS drama students participated in Taste of the Soul.
“I was quite nervous, because this was my first time singing in front of everybody,” said AMS seventh grader Anna Brown, who played Robinson, among other roles in the group’s performances. “Mostly, I love to act. I really want to be an actress when I grow up.”
Paintings by local artist Sabrina R. Campbell featuring local black community leaders including Police Chief Frank Nichols and Charles “LaLa” Evans were also on display.