How Jazz Came to Roberts for Black History Month and All Year Round The quite-belated Black history month article

BY NORA ESSINGER

This year Roberts Elementary had something new and exciting - RE’s first Black History Month celebration (at least in the six years I have been here), and hopefully, it will not be our last! Although only two classes per grade could see the celebration of Black History through music with Dinky Drums, all of you will get to re-live it today.

Sam Dinkins founded Dinky Drums. The quartet goes around to schools, like ours, to share their educational songs and music with students like us.

The Sam Dinkins, III Quartet makes up the Dinky Drums company. They are a combination of musicians who have worked together over the years developing educational music shows that are performed at schools, libraries, and community centers.

Sam Dinkins is a drummer and percussionist who has studied music his whole life. “My music education in percussion began with hand drumming to eventually learning how to play snare drum, drum-set, band percussion instruments, world percussion instruments, and the Drums of Africa,” said Dinkins.

Dinkins shared the rich history of his love and musical art expertise. “The drum, along with the human voice, is the oldest instrument on the planet.”

Although the drums might be Dinkins’s favorite way to express himself, American Jazz inspired the Black History performance at Roberts Elementary School. “Jazz is America’s contribution to the world. Created in America and performed around the world, Jazz was created by Black American musicians and singers utili-