History has secrets. Secrets that were brought to life on February 27th, 2025 at Francis Lewis High School through a student-lead performance in honor of Black History Month. 

“The Secret Meeting” production was the first of its kind at Lewis, speculating what exactly would have happened if Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. had met and held a “secret meeting.” What would they talk about? How would they compromise? To what extent would the Civil Rights Movement change from such an interaction?

The act opened up with a modern dance solo performance filled with artistry by Jenny Casseus. Afterwards, the play act came on. With Jaden Cesar as Malcom X and Joshua Taylor as Dr. King, the brief yet impactful performance went over their civil rights efforts. There were moments when the set would turn dark and attention was drawn to the projected screen, as a narrator voiced important moments in black history. After the play, Abigale Pryce performed an elegant solo of the black national anthem. 

This is just one of the many ways Francis Lewis celebrated African American history throughout Black History Month such as the door decorating contest and an assembly with Dr. Byfield regarding the Exonerated Five. The traditions and celebrations implemented at Lewis demonstrate how learning about such history should not only be in the classroom but also beyond textbooks.