Rising Together: Zarina Sementelli’s Journey from Spelman to Spill The Honey

by Antar Davidson

When Zarina Sementelli began her studies at Spelman College, she—like so many students—knew Dr. King’s dream but not the fuller story of who marched beside him. Through Spill The Honey, she discovered the history of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel walking arm in arm with Dr. King in Selma and of Black and Jewish leaders united in the struggle for justice. That knowledge transformed her perspective, helping her see Jews not only as allies of the past but as partners in the present.

Zarina responded by doing what artists do best: she turned inspiration into expression. She poured her pain and resilience into a powerful hip-hop anthem that carried forward the message of solidarity:

“We gotta fight this thing together, that’s a part of the plan.They can’t break us to the ground—if united, we stand.”

Her song didn’t remain just a campus performance. It became the flagship track of Shared Legacies: The African American–Jewish Civil Rights Alliance, Spill The Honey’s award-winning documentary that has been screened in classrooms, synagogues, churches, and civic spaces nationwide. Zarina’s voice set the tone for a film now inspiring dialogue across the country.

This is exactly what Bars & Bridges was created to do. Our new initiative transforms classrooms into incubators of civic expression. Students encounter the story of the Black–Jewish alliance, reflect on identity and justice, and then create music, poetry, and storytelling rooted in their lived experience. Zarina’s journey shows the cycle in motion: education sparking creation, creation fueling community, and community spreading unity.

Now a graduate of California Western School of Law, Zarina has already stepped into her role as both an attorney and an artist. She served as President of the Black Law Students Association and the First-Generation Law Students Association, and she continues to see her music and her legal career as ways to “be a voice for my community and for people who are often silenced.”

Her story is proof of concept: when history meets creativity, young leaders rise. This is the future of Bars & Bridges—not just teaching history, but turning it into living culture.

Click here to listen to Shared Legacies Theme Song / Zarina Sementelli, John Bartlett, and Shari Rogers

Lyrics to Shared Legacies Theme Song

Never forget how much power you hold.

Broken down when we get up again. I've been hurting. I've been crying. I just need a friend.  They say this pain won't last forever but when will it end. I see my brother lose his life when he was only 10. Everybody got some blood on their hands. We gotta fight this thing together. That's a part of the plan. They can't break us to the ground. If united, we stand. Dr King gave us this message from a cell Birmingham, a threat to justice anywhere is danger to us all. If we take one player off the court, then none of us can fall. We're connected at the soul, so we can't let each other fall. If it's us against the world, then I'm ready to take it off. The exodus began, but it hasn't been completed. In 1963 Heschel gave us what we needed. He told us we were powerful. It will not be defeated. If we separate ourselves, our mission cannot be completed.

So let's rise up.

Show them how we coming. We know that there will be pain, but you won't catch us running, no running. There's no time to complain because it's now or nothing. We don't suffer in vain because we're made for something neighbor, so let's rise up. Show em how we coming. We know that there will be pain, but you can't catch us running, no running. There's no time to complain because it's now or nothing. We don't suffer in vain, because we're made for something make us all.

It's been a long time coming. Been through the mud, but we won't give up. Whatever didn't kill us it just makes us tough. We don't need the evil cause we spread in love. Oh, it's been a long time coming. Been through the mud, but we won't give up. Whatever didn't kill us, it just made us tough. We don't need the evil cause we spread in love.

I'm gonna a spill the honey so we all can feast. It's made from nothing but love so we spread all the peace. If it's not sent from above, then we don't want a piece. A soldier fighting for equality, is all I want to be. So I started praying with my feet like the rabbi did in Selma when he was marching with King fighting hatred in the ring. There's no stopping to the dink, always moving with a purpose, like I'm attached to a string. I'm in a cold world, cold, with a warm heart. I see our people divided, and that's the wrong start. We gotta pull it together so we can go hard. If we don't do it alone, then we can go far.

So let's rise up show them how we coming. We know that there will be pain, but you won't catch us running. There's no time to complain because it's now or nothing. We don't suffer in vain because we're made for something. So let's rise up show them how we coming. We know that there will be pain, but you can't catch us running. There's no time to complain, because it's now or nothing. We don't suffer in vain because we're made for something, made for soul.

It's been a long time coming, been through the mud, but we won't give up. Whatever didn't kill us. It just make us tough. We don't need the evil cause we spread in love. Oh, it's been a long time coming, been through the mud, but we won't give up whatever didn't kill us. It just makes us tough. We don't need the evil cause we spread in love.

Don't let them take your power away. They can spot a hurting soul from a mile away if they don't treat you like it go. Don't give them time of the day, cause we can make it on our own. We're good at finding a way. Don't care if you're left or right. We all want to be safe at night. If you hold my hand through the darkness, we'll make it to the light made stronger through the plight ancestors gave the light wouldn't be here today if they weren't willing to sacrifice.

So let's rise up. Show them how we coming. We know that there will be pain, but you won't catch us running. There's no time to complain, because it's now or nothing. We don't suffer in vain because we're made for something made for something great, made for something great. You.