Foley students celebrated Black History Month in their own unique way Friday at Foley Elementary School, honoring Dr. Martin Luther King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech, reciting different poetry and performing dances to celebrate African American culture and history under the theme of “We are the dream.”

Foley Elementary School students quoted King’s speech and broke into pairs to describe why the two are friends.

“I have a dream that one day we will be able to sit down at a table of brotherhood,” Francisco Leon, 8, said, and then repeated the line in Spanish.

“This is my friend Cameron. We are friends because we can run fast,” Latoya Howard, 8, said.

“We are all friends here at Foley Elementary School because we are the dream,” Ayona Pickens, 7, said.

FES fourth-grader Roscoe Barnett, 10, then told the crowd what he thinks King would say if he were alive today.

“Somewhere down the line, we have taken the wrong road,” he said, noting the need for parents to be better role models, kids obtaining guns and the usage of drugs as issues in today’s country. “I didn’t live and die to see the American family destroyed. Stop the violence and crime and put the drugs away…Let’s come together as a nation with unity, love and respect.”

Foley Middle School and Foley High School students recited poetic tributes while other students performed a praise dance, which is popular in African American-communities, FHS teacher Tirana Porter said.

FMS students Olivia Shoots, 12, Brittany Hall, 14, Kayla Knight, 12, and Chastidy Odom, 12, were a few of the students who recited poetry.

Shoots recited “Statistic,” Hall performed “Phenomenal Woman” and Odom,  and Knight did “Two sides of the same coin.”

“It’s a great event because it brings past and future together,” Foley Mayor John Koniar said. “The future is the children. It bring the community together whether it be black, white or hispanic.”

FHS senior Laquita Parrish, 18, won a $500 scholarship from the Church Women United, the sponsoring group of the event. The Foley area schools have taken part in the event for the past 25 years, Anne Smith, president of the group said.

“It’s always a thrill to see our boys and girls loving each other,” Foley Elementary School Principal Bill Lawrence said, noting that children find ways to not segregate themselves. “I don’t know what happens when they get older, but whey they’re children, they get it. It’s when the community and adults get involved that it gets separated out. If you leave the kids alone, it’ll be alright.”

Other students that participated in the event include: Jakiya Jackson, Mariangel Zelaya, Ronasia Barnett, Nehemiah Pierce, Jeremiah Gregory, Brendan Guerry, Shamira Howard, Deanne Rew, Jaiden Jenkins, Jhalilyah Adams, Trenten Bolder, Jaylynn Velec, Maya Woodyard, Dominique Smith, Ashley Turner, Alexus Rigsby, Philomene Adams, Adrianna Jackson, Javian Davis, Josh Walker, Willie Dennis, Tabitha Moore, Sidney Stallworth, Allesha Lymon, Jade Craft, Kayla Roper, Zariah Horne, D’amontae Casey, Yasmine Showers, Erica Robinson, Maya Dailey and Dontell Curtis.