Throughout February, Dallas ISD is celebrating Black History Month.
In 1926, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History founded Black History Week, which later grew into Black History Month.
Schools this month will be full of music, exhibits, dance, and special speakers highlighting Black History Month 2017. A sampling of the events, many of which are open to the public, is listed below.
- Kennedy Curry Middle School students will showcase their public speaking skills at an oratorical event and fashion show in the school auditorium at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 21. The school also plans to host its second annual Gospel Explosion featuring performances of song, dance, poetry and mime at 6 p.m., Friday, Feb. 24.
- Middle school students at Harry Stone Montessori Middle School will perform works of poetry by African American writers and students’ original verse at the school’s Poetry from Past to Present event. The program will be presented at 1:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 24, in the school auditorium at 4747 Veterans Dr.
- Students at New Tech High School at A. Maceo Smith have created a museum display highlighting historically black colleges and universities. The monthlong exhibit will feature information and guest speakers from area HBCUs conducting lunch and learn sessions with information about the various colleges’ majors, student life, and how to apply for scholarships. One of the speakers is Grambling State University alum Hattie Wayne whose family holds the Guinness world record for the largest number of family members attending or graduating from a U.S. college or university. Wayne’s family boasts 80 members who attended Grambling. On Fri., Feb. 24, New Tech students will pay tribute to President Barack Obama through song, dance, poetry and spoken word. The program is set for 3:40 p.m. in the school auditorium.
- Frank Guzick Elementary will pay tribute to the music of Motown, featuring students offering facts about the African American cultural achievements interspersed with performances highlighting the music of Motown era. Assemblies are planned at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 28.
- At Dan D. Rogers Elementary, fourth-grade students will participate in weekly classes directed by the Dallas Black Dance Theater to expand students’ cultural awareness and involve students in an extracurricular activity. The classes meet Mondays and Wednesdays at 12:30 p.m. from Feb. 6 through March 1.
- On Wed., March 1, at 1 p.m., H.I. Holland Elementary School at Lisbon will host “Dare to Dream: Dreams Can Come True,” a program featuring music, dance and poetry that highlights African American achievers and seeks to inspire students to follow their dreams no matter the obstacles they face.
If you have a Dallas ISD Black History Month event to add to the roundup, email thehub@dallasisd.org.
