In ancient times they were a form of communication, and today, if you couldn't make out the message through the drum beat, you could read it on a sign.
"Not no, but hell no to the closing of our parks," said one sign.
Dozens of area residents fired up about the significance of the demolition of BC Franklin.
"This is our Greenwood of today if you really want to know the truth about it," said Byron Watson.
The city says the money simply isn't there to keep it up and running, but at the same time, a quarter of a million was already earmarked for repairs.
"Money was allocated for this in the third penny sales tax between 2001 and 2006, and nothing was ever used, no money ever went to BC Franklin, none," said Kristi Williams.
And the neglect seen in an empty pool and the peeling of paint, could be reflected in the community.
"These parks represent a chance for them, their way out," said State Representative Jabar Shumate, explaining the importance of the park.
"I'm alarmed that the city would cut here when we know that if our children have nothing to do they're going to kill themselves and we can't allow that to happen," said Shumate.
"This building will not be torn down," said James Johnson, prepared to do more than just place a call of protest to city hall.
"If one person stood in front of a tank in Tiananmen Square China and changed history, if I have to stand in front of this building alone, in front of that bulldozer, we're not having it," he said.
