Black History Month Celebrations
Throughout February, FWCD’s three divisions commemorated Black History Month, illuminating the important contributions of Black Americans to our shared history. The month started with books: The Little Piano Girl, I Am Every Good Thing and Trombone Shorty. In addition to the read-aloud books, each division had special programs.
In Lower School, students learned about different Black Americans through a slideshow in the Fischer Dining Pavilion, read-alouds in class, and presentations at Friday assemblies. In a recent assembly, students took on the roles of famous Black Americans. Zara Mgbemena ’35 represented Serena Williams (one of the greatest tennis players of all time), Quest Davis ’35 represented Venus Williams (one of the greatest tennis players of all time), Claire Hall ’34 was Barabra Jordan (first Black State Senator), and Rhema Huckaby ’35 represented her father, Sedrick Huckaby (a renowned artist whose pieces evoke cultural history and the artist of Opal Lee’s National Portrait Gallery painting) Hosted by William Laborde ’34, the presenters each introduced themselves, explained what items they brought with them and why they were important, and discussed why they are famous.
Middle School shared a Periodic Table of Black Figures in History, which served as a stepping stone for a Flocabulary by Nearpod Black History Month contest. In honor of Black History Month, Flocabulary invited students to research an under-recognized Black historical figure and write (and perform if they’d like) a rap about the person. Emery Estes ’30, Gabriel Interiano ’30 and Charlie Sellers ’31 submitted raps on Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander (the first Black woman to practice law in Pennsylvania), Bob Marley (Jamaican reggae musical pioneer), and Mae Jamison (first Black woman to travel into space in 1992). The students will learn in April if they are winners.
In Upper School, Dr. Jared Williams and Ariana Masole spoke to students about the history of Divine Nine National Pan-Hellenic Council organizations and their experiences as members of historically Black fraternities and sororities. A member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and the Fort Worth City Council, Williams works with the Tarrant Area Food Bank. Masole, sister to Nicole Masole-Rose, is a Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. member and works in cyber security. Both speakers expressed how being involved in their fraternity and sorority, networking, and creating relationships has helped them in their careers.
