Clubs begin to celebrate Black History

or black contributions to society should not end after 28 days,” MCPS senior and former participant of the Black Student Union (BSU) Committee Jade Frenche said. “It should be a continual effort and practice throughout the year. Also, the month should also be focused on anti-Black racism and investigating racial inequity.”

WCHS can still do more to get involved throughout the month of February. Teachers can implement black history lessons into their lesson plans. It is important for students to acknowledge the full history from different points of view as well as theous ways that WCHS can incorporate black history into its community.

“I’ve seen other schools implement a person of the week, which are Black conwriters, leaders, scientists, etc.” Kossoff said. “Workshops on hip-hop history, Scholasticdeveloped 13 cross-curricular activities for teachers and virtually visiting the National Museum of African American History and Culture and some examples.”

These are just a few ways WCHS could get more involved. There are even more ways as well including going to DC and participating in various protests, listening in on the different organizations and overall raising awareness for the past events and learning how to ensure injustice like that does not happen again.

“The Black Student Union has a BHM program for Black students to participate in,” Frenche said. “Singing, dancing, spoken words, talent shows and visual arts are just a few of the opportunities that they can show off to an audience about their spehave even talked about their personal experiences being a black student in an MCPS system.” who stood against injustice and created impactful change, including August Wilson, Augusta Savage and Sidney Poitier,” Kossoff said. “After seeing profound discussions in the hallway and a large turnout at MSP’s Cultural Night, I am optimistic about our school’s new welcoming of multiculturalism.”

MCPS allows their African American students to showcase their talents and be themselves to their community in various different ways. It is important for students to understand more about the modern-day black experience. This makes BHM so important because the more people who are paying attention, the more people are ready and willing to truly understand.

The iDream Churchill club has made lasting effects on WCHS on how they celebrate BHM. They have been able to show studentstory and how they have impacted the black community. These murals that they have been decorating the hallways with have gained support and increased awareness throughout the WCHS community.

“Overall, BHM is a way to recognize key contributions of African Americans,” Frenche said. “Especially because they have been neglected throughout American history.”

MCPS schools have strived to bring diversity to their communities, especially throughout BHM.

Students are taught only about the bad parts of black history in school and what dreadful events African Americans have gone through. They are taught about slavery and segregation and overall mistreatment of the African American community throughout history. However, there is more to black history than just the negatives. During BHM, black students and faculty can come together in order to teach people about the positive parts of black history - the parts that history classes should be teaching.

The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture in Washington DC, built in 2016, has been giving the full history of African Americans as well as allowing the general public to indulge in learning more of their culture. This museum has important African American speakers throughout the month of February for Black History Month and organizes movements throughout DC.

“BSU and the library at Wootton High School collaborate to highlight black authors,” Frenche said. “Together, we are shedding some light on the good things that African Americans have done throughout history.”

WCHS students and staff alike should, for at least the month of February, try to do more for the BHM movement. Whether it is helping out with the iDream Churchill mural, implementing a new curriculum that focuses more on Black History than just what is in the textbooks or creating new clubs, WCHS should try to do more for the black community and uplift black voices in the process.

“Churchill has unfortunately frequently made news for acts of hate, prejudice and racism over the last few years,” Kossoff said. “To me, it seemed necessary to create meaningful conversation and educate the Churchill community to hopefully raising awareness about Black History Month.”