Last week, former Harlem Globetrotter Gene “Ice Man” Raines spoke to students and faculty during Long County High School’s annual Black History Month appreciation ceremony. Principal Scotty Hattaway welcomed attendees and introduced Raines, who now lives in Savannah.
Raines stressed to audience members the importance of making positive choices in their personal lives and touched on the benefits of continuing education. He read a poem entitled “My Life,” and explained to the students how it had inspired him to look inside himself and find strength during tough times in his life. Raines also talked about the important role God has played in his life, helping him to become the man he is today.
After the program, Raines signed autographs and said he hopes his speech proves helpful to the students who listened.
“I saw very good looking young people at the ceremony this afternoon. God gave me the opportunity to come to Long County High School, and I hope that I helped people greatly by my speech,” Raines said. “If I can help one person today, it was a miracle.”
Senior class officers Kathryn Strickland, Haley Riddle, Ariel Morales and Christopher Coleman also participated in the program. They each told the story of an African-American who influenced society in some way. The students shared information about Jackie Robinson, Richard Pryor and Joe Briden.
Faculty members Ryan Bailey and Divita Phillips also took part in the show. Bailey read Maya Angelou’s poem “I Rise,” and Phillips sang “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.”