LYNN – The study of the history and evolution of the world’s many cultures at Lynn English High School continued Tuesday morning when a group of students put on a song and spoken word performance tying in the history of African culture, music and the city of Lynn.The project was a collaboration of many departments in the school, which began when Lianne Goodwin of the Music Department said she wanted her Gospel Choir to perform African spiritual songs as part of Black History Month in February.With the help of Library Media Specialist Linda Barefield, history teacher Donna Manzo, the jazz band and the audio-visual department, the program developed in to an interdisciplinary assembly that celebrated African American history, along with local history in both song and word.Since the performance was delayed until March, the history lesson encompassed several topics alongside of African American history, including musical history, women’s history and how it is all tied in to the city, further expanding the school’s message of unity in modern culture.”The New England Association of Schools wants us to include more interdisciplinary studies, and this combines music and history,” said Manzo. “It ties in African history, women’s history and Lynn history with the strong abolitionist movement in Lynn. Lynn was a very busy place during the abolitionist era and was a major part of the Underground Railroad.”The presentation included character portrayals of abolitionist Lynn residents such as Frederick Douglass, Abby Kelly and Jesse Hutchinson, while historic images were projected on a large screen behind the stage.As students entered the auditorium, the jazz band played Duke Ellington’s music while juniors Fariha Ashraf and Carmen Barefield introduced speakers and musical numbers.The first speaker was Kelly, played by senior Bethany Butland. Dressed in her usual black, Kelly discussed her experiences both as an abolitionist and as secretary for the Lynn Female Antislavery Society.Douglass, played by junior Jeremy Santiago, read a poetic passage about slavery from his Narrative, which he wrote while living in Lynn.Hutchinson, who is responsible for bringing High Rock Tower to Lynn, was played by junior Jonathan Surette, who performed a rendition of his famous antislavery song “Get off the Track,” supported by members of the chorus.Seniors also read excerpts from Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.In all, 14 students played a role in the production, in addition to the jazz band and gospel choir.Lynn English High School has been focusing on culture and history throughout the school year, and used the event to tie in women’s history and the history of music, both of which are recognized in the month of March.