Over the course of Black History Month, which is Feburary, Boston Latin School Black Leaders Aspiring for Change and Knowledge (B.L.A.C.K.) led BLS in celebrating the accomplishments of many Black Americans by hosting multiple events.
Included in these events were the annual Poetry Cafe and daily announcements that highlight outstanding members of the Black community. Both allowed individuals to learn more about lesser-known aspects and people in Black history.
On February 7, BLS B.L.A.C.K. hosted their annual Poetry Cafe. Students were invited to share pieces they composed themselves or found interesting, with most relating to race. Others focused more on love, with Valentine’s Day being just a week later. The reading or singing of these pieces allowed students to express their identities and love for the written word while also engaging in an important celebration of Black culture.
Along with Poetry Cafe, BLS B.L.A.C.K. also led their annual spirit week during Black History Month, though with additional changes.
BLS B.L.A.C.K. vice president Donnell Davis (III) highlighted the significance of promoting inclusivity in the club’s celebrations, as the club focused on “having our events [so that] African American students and really just students of color at BLS know that they’re not alone, that there’s always a community, because BLS is majority white.”
In another effort to spread awareness about Black influence in America, Briyanna Hampton (VI) was tasked with highlighting members of the Black community during homeroom announcements. For example, on the day of a gospel choir celebration, she focused on the Clark sisters, a vocal group made up of five Black American women.
Despite all the success in their celebration of Black History Month, BLS B.L.A.C.K. encountered some difficulties. With the club’s faculty advisor, Ms. Cheralyn Pinchem, as well as many club members absent for over a week on the AP African American Studies trip to Ghana, the remaining students had to continue their work with limited guidance.
Hampton describes one of the struggles, explaining, “It was sort of tough for me because I didn’t have that support and I didn’t have the […] sort of guidance to do the announcements.” Hampton would usually have checked in with Ms. Pinchem to make sure the people highlighted were good fits.
Challenges aside, BLS B.L.A.C.K. felt it was able to accomplish its main goals of teaching Black history while inspiring students of all backgrounds to learn more about Black culture and continue fighting for a more equal world.
Ms. Pinchem concludes, “I hate to sound cliché, but Black history is everyone’s history.”