AASO Features Black Excellence
Every year, High School West’s African American Student Organization (AASO) produces a Black History Month, but this year, AASO took a different approach. The club presented a stage play with complex characters and multiple scenes, following Howard University students on their first day of classes.
Chloe Glaze shared that her favorite part of the show was “being surrounded by people with similar backgrounds,” adding that the sense of community made the experience especially meaningful. Cast member Tristan S. echoed this sentiment, saying the backstage environment “felt like a united community,” describing the cast as welcoming and supportive throughout the process.
As the story unfolded from the Yard to the cafeteria, the Divine Nine showcase, and finally Rankin Chapel, students learned about Howard University’s rich traditions and its role as a cultural, political, and educational hub for Black excellence.
The show opened with a performance of the Black National Anthem by Brooke Lynne Ifill and Chloe Glaze, setting a powerful tone for the presentations.
Through lively dialogue and dynamic scenes, the audience was introduced to key elements of HBCU culture, including soul food as a symbol of survival and celebration, the Showtime Marching Band as a pillar of school pride, student entrepreneurship, journalism, and the legacy of Black Greek life.
AASO further highlighted Black entrepreneurship by featuring Akira Lloyd’s hair business, demonstrating how this legacy exists within the High School West community itself.
The performance also included a step and hip-hop hybrid routine by the High School West Step Team, dancing to “Sticky” by Tyler, The Creator, with green lighting illuminating the stage. Audience member Anna Rudden cited the step routine as her favorite part, noting that the choreography and music helped it stand out from other styles of dance. Another fan favorite was the majorette routines between each scene.
Majorettes Brooke Lynne Ifill, Hannah Waddell, Diannalee Primo, and Sydney Richards maintained high energy between scenes, choosing to dance the culture rather than explain it.
The show was performed three times: once for 9th and 10th graders, once for 11th and 12th graders, and a nighttime performance for parents, family, and friends. According to multiple cast members, the underclassmen audience stood out to them the most between the day shows. “Their engagement with the performance helped with the nerves of it being the first show,” said Hannah Waddell.
Audience member Anna Rudden also noted that this year’s show stood out from past performances, saying she appreciated the dialogue between characters and the addition of dancers during intermissions.
The final show drew numerous Divine Nine alumni, many of whom attended in their organization’s colors and attire, reinforcing the lasting impact of the legacy portrayed on stage.
