12 Opinions
February
Celebrating
Black History Month Emmi Wu ’23, Shaine Davison ’23, Emma Liu ’22, Spencer Rosenbaum ’22
Pictured from left to right are a few of LM’s most notable Black alumni. In order: B.J. Johnson, Julius W. Becton Jr., Johnny Christmas, Kobe Bryant, and Russell Carter. In honor of Black History Month, The Merionite is exploring various ways LM highlights diversity and promotes equality. Through programs, classes, and extracurriculars LM is fosters an environment for inclusivity and racial equity. Students of color are offered an opportunity to join Becton Scholars, an affinity group that helps cultivate academic excellence and leadership. This program provides students with a safe space to engage in conversations, activities, and projects to voice their ideas, differences, and goals while celebrating their cultural heritage. Entering the 2021-22 school year, the Voices in African American Literature course along with the Black Excellence course joined the school course offerings. Along with academic groups and classes, the student body is also heavily involved in Black culture and activism. Other student-centered activities include the Council for Racial Equity and Inclusivity, Black Student Union, the Diversity Leadership Council and LM’s “Well-read Brothers,” a book club for Black men.
Representation in education Sulaiman Mathew-Wilson ’23
Black History Month was created in 1970 by Carter G. Woodson as an expansion of what was originally known as Negro History Week. Woodson established Black History Month because he believed that white-dominated history had little interest in Black history and that all Americans should understand the largely overlooked achievements of Black Americans. Before Black History Month, Black history didn’t receive much attention, and even to this day, it isn’t given the same attention that it deserves in our education. Even in our school district, classes such as Black Excellence: The Politics, Economics, & Culture of an American People and Voices in African American American Literature weren’t introduced until very recently. Courses like these are extremely important for both white students and students of color. Not only is it essential for all students to learn about Black achievements and history, but it is also crucial for Black people and students to learn about their history and heritage. While Black History Month is important, it’s just as important that we teach Black history all year long.
Q&A with Tyler Goodwin
Teacher for Voices in African American Literature (VAAL) course & Black Student Union sponsor What does Black History Month mean to you?
Black History Month means a time to highlight the culture and achievements of the descendants of the people who came to the United States due to the African diaspora.
What can we do to strengthen diversity & inclusion at LM? We need to create more opportunities for students and staff to interact and collaborate over a common goal with those who are not like them.
In the first semester of the school year, I took the course Black Excellence: The Politics, Economics, and Culture of an American People, and in that short period of time, I learned about more Black history topics than ever before.
“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” - Malcolm X
“The class was really important to me because I got to learn more about Black figures like Malcolm X and Langston Hughes, as well as topics and time periods, such as poetry in the Harlem Renaissance. ” Classes like these are examples of ways that schools can incorporate Black history all throughout the school year. Overall, I think Black History Month is important to promote more knowledge and awareness of Black history. However, it’s even more important that learning about Black history is done more than just during Black History Month. Viewing history through the lens of groups of people who've been marginalized, such as but not limited to Black people, is extremely important, so the injustices of the past and present do not repeat.
How should we celebrate BHM at LM?
Each department should have a Black History Month bulletin board to highlight achievements in their discipline. We also need to implement a larger focus on advisory lessons/discussions. Together, students should be brought together with a school-wide assembly educating students on the importance of Black history.
What literature do you read in VAAL?
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston The Vanishing Half & Passing by Brit Bennett
Tyler Goodwin, English teacher and sponsor for LMSD’s National Society of Black Engineers Chapter, addresses the Class of 2021 Becton Scholars. Photo courtesy of LMSD.
