Homewood High School will hold its annual Black History Month Assembly on Feb. 20, focusing on the history of African American laborers.
English teacher Angela Gant has been directing these school-wide assemblies for nearly two decades.
“Our focus this year is to shine the light on the countless numbers of African Americans whose labor and contributions…have helped shape industries,” Gant said.
This year’s program seeks to honor the unsung heroes of society who laid the foundation for countless fields of industry, and yet are practically ignored by history. From factory workers to engineers, doctors, lawyers and even janitors, there are countless examples of African American societal contributions for students to celebrate.
Dr. Rayna M. Dyck Richardson, a dermatologist with Skin Wellness in Homewood, will deliver a speech on the significant and often overlooked contributions of African Americans in shaping the workforce at the assembly.
Gant believes the impact of Black history is deeper than what a program during the school day can highlight.
“The idea is to continually expose and highlight the fact that African American history, if it was taught in the history books just like white history, we would have no need for a month,” Gant said.
Theatre teacher Amy Marchino contributes a creative element to the assemblies. Her theater performance students will deliver monologues to the audience.
The Chamber Winds ensemble will provide an assortment of music, and the master of ceremonies will narrate to the audience.
The Fine Arts department will perform its own “Living Museum” highlighting four to five African Americans in professions that Gant plans to have “come alive and speak” as living wax figures.
Junior Jaylyn Ward is a Creative Writing III student writing scripts for the program’s performances. She is particularly excited for this event.
“I’m excited and ready to see my people in action–I’m ready for people to be engaged and learn more about the people who helped build America,” she said.
Ward stresses that celebrating Black History should not be confined to only a month, but that people should acknowledge and appreciate Black historical figures and modern contributors year-round.
Assemblies like these help remind everyone, young and old, about the deep culture of America and the complexity of its history. The impact of African Americans, often overshadowed, highlights the little credit that America has given to minorities historically and how these groups can claim their respect.
