History
Black History Month with RCEC: Beah Richards by Mere’ Smith
Students with River City Early College have taken on an extra credit project this month and are sharing their Black History Month inspirations with the community.
The following poem was submitted by RCEC student Mere’ Smith.
Beah Richards
Beulah Elizabeth Richardson
July 12, 1920 – September 14, 2000
Born in a small city, Vicksburg was the go
She soon showed her potential like so:
A writer, a poet, and actor
Who had a lot in store
A girl with a big dream
Just wanting to be seen
She was living two lives
But had no time to cry
Harassed and hounded
She was left with no sound
No words; just a black women with no say
Never seemed like she could get her way
Activism, Marching, and Justice
A determination she had for us
New York City was the move
To achieve her goals and improve
A strong desire for the stage
So she made that her page
Big things lay on her mind
Without a doubt, it was her time to shine
All the disgust, fury, violence, and anger
She played it all through her stage persona
Nominated and winning awards
That was for sure her reward
Mark September 14, 2000 the date
They found an arrested heart rate
Hoping she could take at least one breath
Emphysema was her tragic death
Beah Richards, 80 as her age,
Left a good name with her love of the stage
About the author
Mere’dit’hasia Smith assumed name as Meré is a 9th-grade student attending River City Early College High school. She attended Beechwood Elementary where she served as Beta Club president and public speaker, Academy of Innovation for junior high school, and now is a proud River City Early College High School Cougar.
Meré participates in cheer as a flyer, track as a sprinter and hurdler, cross country, and a saxophonist in the Big Blue band. Her parents are Kenneth and Lowanda Smith. Meré’s future plans are to attend Florida State University to run track and major in Biology. Her goal is to become a pediatrician in the future.