Gey’lah Jones a poetess, who speaks through not just her powerful words but also through visuals and music, guided an audience to revisit the African-American past on the University of Wisconsin-Superior campus last Friday.

Her performance, which was held in the Thorpe Langley auditorium, included a powerful beginning where she took the audience to the roots of the African-American voyage to America. It included interesting videos and a dramatic reading of the different poets that shaped black literary history in America.

“We all have a story to tell,” Gey’lah told the audience, “and we can make that story the greatest story, or the bleakest story, depending on how we perceive what we have gone through.”

She asked the audience to use the power of the tongue towards the benefit of others. She believed that words could be food for thought or fire’s fuel.

Clearly an advocate of the power of words, her performance definitely sparked some thought as she spoke of not only black history in America, but of black roots and the need for understanding and unity amongst all people.

“Speak life into someone today,” Gey’lah concluded.

“The Power of the Tongue is part of a series of events for black history month,” said Lalese Dawano, co-president of the Black Student Union. “Our next event, Bringing the Truth to Light, which will be held this Thursday, in Great Room C, is a film and open forum discussion on 'Racism in the Twin Ports Led by the Clayton Jackson McGhee Memorial.'”

Also planned for Black History Month is Soul Food dinner and dance on Saturday, Feb. 26 from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Great Room of the Yellowjacket Union, followed by a dance from 10 p.m.  to 2 a.m. in the Multicultural Center.

“All our events are free and open to the public,’ add Dawano, “and we encourage all students, faculty and community members to come show their support and join us.”