77.7 F
Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesHenderson School Ends Black History Month with Program

Henderson School Ends Black History Month with Program

Students at the Alexander Henderson Elementary School praised African American accomplishments during a Black History Month program in the school’s auditorium Friday.

With Black History Month ending, the observance of African American success and their contributions were viewed by the students through a combination of poems, songs, trivia questions, dances, skits, drumming and modeling segments performed by all grade levels.

Guidance counselor Ilma Rodgers-Francis said the program is “a collaboration of everything the students learned in February.”

“Every time in the month of February and throughout the school year, we find it very important to view what our African Americans have contributed to our society,” she said.

Rodgers-Francis said she is proud of African Americans’ contributions, adding, “Black ancestors made vital inventions.”

The students gained the true meaning of Black History Month with this year’s theme –“Celebrating the Past, Present, and Future of African Americans.” The students achieved this by solving tough civil rights trivia questions asked by the faculty, staff and host.

They answered trivia questions about both regional and local African Americans, such as Marcus Garvey, Nelson Mandela, Madam C.J. Walker, President Barack Obama and Martin Luther King Jr.

Students performed a skit of the Rosa Parks bus incident. Although the bus scenario consisted of students sitting on school chairs and the bus drivers’ steering wheel was a circular cardboard, the reenactment of the 1950s incident felt real. Students performing in the skit included Kinora Hopkins, Jomari Jacobs, Michell Samuel, Rafael Jackson, Gregory Joseph, Reyniyah Ilarraza, Jahzeel James, Nambriea Stanislas and Francisco Figueroa.

Ladeija Davis, Sonaiales Parilla and Kiomarays Soto entertained the crowd with an African dance to Shakira’s hit “Waka Waka.” Soto, a sixth-grader, was the winner of the schools T-shirt contest, which allowed the youngsters to draw what Black History Month means to them. As the winner, her design was printed on the T-shirt and worn by the faculty and staff.

The rhythm of the St. Croix Sankofa Drummers had the students clapping along with the performers. The drummers also enlightened the students by informing them that drums were considered a source of communication in the past.

Students dressed in African attire were acknowledged during a modeling segment. The school allowed the students to wear clothing outside the required uniform. Few students decided to dress the part for the program.

Black History Month is observed in the United States in February for the acknowledgment of African Americans and past historical events.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Keeping our community informed is our top priority.
If you have a news tip to share, please call or text us at 340-228-8784.

Support local + independent journalism in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Unlike many news organizations, we haven't put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as accessible as we can. Our independent journalism costs time, money and hard work to keep you informed, but we do it because we believe that it matters. We know that informed communities are empowered ones. If you appreciate our reporting and want to help make our future more secure, please consider donating.

1 COMMENT