In recognition of Black History Month, Director of Equity and Inclusion Ms. Kiah Johnson Mounsey invited slam poet Andre Bradford, known by his stage name S.C. Says, to perform his work in La Salle’s gym during today’s assembly. 

Returning to La Salle, this time in person, S.C. Says hopes to pique the interests of students, touching on topics ranging from empathy, race, and mental health. “I’m hoping that it generates some curiosity,” S.C. Says said. “I talked about some pretty hot topics with police brutality in the show and my own experiences with racism, and I hope that there are kinds of light bulbs for maybe some students.” By bringing up these issues, S.C. Says wants to encourage people to expand on the curiosity that arises from his work by doing further research and finding resources. 

Reflecting on his own high school experience, S.C. Says said, “I wish I had that at this age, and so for me it’s incredibly fulfilling to be here.”

Ms. Mounsey first invited S.C. Says in her first year at La Salle, but, now in-person and in front of a larger audience, she hoped S.C. Says’ showcase of his poems would unite those in the gym with the prevailing theme of empathy. 

“I really appreciate how he dives into topics that I think need to be normalized and that people need to feel like they can bring up without any worry of stigmatization,” Ms. Mounsey said. 

After the assembly, S.C. Says was available for a drop-in session during today’s lunches.

“It’s been amazing to be here live and to actually have really good conversations with some of the students directly after because that’s my favorite part of all,” S.C. Says said. “I think that’s where you really start to see change.”