- [audrina] the push excel oratorical society. do you feel powerful up there? - yes. it feels like, i can do anything i set my mind to. hey, black child, do you know you are strong? i mean, really strong. - [audrina] for all of them here, standing on this stage is symbolic, as they're standing on the shoulders of great orators like dr. king who have come before them. - [king] i have a dream today. - he was able to persuade people, because he knew the power of persuasive speech. - [audrina] and that is what olivia porter teaches her students. - [olivia] one more time, deep breath. - [audrina] through repetition. - [olivia] one more time now. - [audrina] through perfecting speeches and poems and sticking every word and syllable while evoking emotion. - not only do i want you to memorize what you're going to say but know why you're saying it. - [audrina] christianna knows why. - i get to speak on history. history sounds like langston, mamie smith, w.e.b. du bois. things are not being talked about in history books. so i constantly tel