News

Léman Manhattan Celebrates Black (Diaspora) History/Heritage Month

March 04, 2024

February marks Black (Diaspora) History/Heritage Month, a time to commemorate the culture, history, and contributions of people across the Black diaspora.

Throughout this time, our community took time to reflect on the injustices Black people have continued to fight in both the past and present, celebrate the progress that they've made in this regard, and amplify the voices and perspectives of Black people across the globe.

Throughout this month, faculty and staff members, in collaboration with students and families, are planning different celebrations and events to bring our community together to learn and grow throughout this commemorative time. We look forward to sharing how Léman will be celebrating!

 

HBCU Tour
This year, students and faculty members attended Léman’s first-ever HBCU tour. Over the course of the two day-long trip, middle and high school students had the opportunity to explore the cultures, academic offerings, and histories of three historically Black colleges and universities in the DMV area: Bowie State University, Howard University, and Morgan State University.

 

The Second Annual Léman Manhattan Cookout
Led and Organized by the Upper School’s Black Student Union (BSU), students, families, faculty, and staff came together on Thursday, February 22nd to enjoy the second annual Black History Month Cookout! Throughout, guests enjoyed delicious food, amazing music, and fun games reflecting the diversity of the Black diaspora. Huge thanks to the students, faculty members, and families who helped bring this event to life.

 

The Read Aloud Club & Black Student Union Read Books at 41 Broad Street
Throughout the year, upper school students in the Read Aloud Club visit their younger peers to share a variety of books that touch on each of our DEIJ celebrations. This month, the literary club and the Black Student Union teamed up to share children's books that highlight a global reflection of Black culture, history, and life with their early childhood and lower school peers.

 

District Attorney Alvin Bragg Visits the Black Student Union
On Tuesday, February 28th, The Black Student Union (BSU) hosted District Attorney Alvin Bragg to their affinity space during advisory. During his visit, DA Bragg shared about his personal experiences and background, the significance of his position as a DA, including barriers, challenges, and obstacles that he's faced as the first Black Manhattan DA, and how he's overcome the latter. Additionally, DA Bragg shared about his successes and some of the life lessons he has learned. 

 

Learning About the Traditions of Black Southern Cooking
Lower School Head Chef, Chef Chris, treated LS students and faculty to two wonderful demonstrations of how Léman’s delicious cornbread is made. Throughout the demo, Chef Chris also spoke about his family’s Southern roots and of the legacy of Harlem’s famous soul food institution Sylvia’s Restaurant of Harlem, which his great grandmother founded in 1962.

 

Highlighting Important Figures in Black History 
Each morning in February, students in Grades 4 and 5 have had the opportunity to highlight important figures in Black history, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Debbie Allen, Walter Dean Myers, and more during morning announcements. Students also shared prose from Myers’ book of prose, “Jazz,” which features illustrations by his son, Christopher Myers.

 

Ernest Crim III Visits Léman
On Tuesday, February 27th, author, anti-racist educator, and activist Ernest Crim III visited Léman to speak to students, families, and faculty about how the integration of inclusive education into school curricula is to the benefit of all students and academic communities at large. In each presentation, Mr. Crim also spoke to the historical context of language and the impact it can have on various members of a community.

 

Upper Schoolers Celebrate Black History Through Art
Students in middle and high school social studies have been celebrating and exploring the diversity of Black history through various forms of visual and written art. Below, read more in-depth descriptions of what students have been doing in class, written by upper school history teachers Ms. Belitsis, Mr. Ulmer, and Mr. Johnson.

 

Mr. Ulmer, Middle School History Teacher
This Black History Month, our 6th graders embarked on an inspiring project, selecting notable Black Americans like MLK, Amanda Gorman, Toni Morrison, and many more to bring to life in an artistic poster. Each student then penned an artist statement, diving deep into their research and sharing insights about these influential figures. It's been an amazing journey of discovery and creativity.

 

Ms. Belitsis, Middle School History Teacher
In 6th and 7th grade Social Studies, students picked a notable figure of the Black Diaspora to research. They designed artwork, either digitally or by hand, and created a statement to explain their visions. They enjoyed presenting it to their classmates and truly showcased their creativity! Their inspiring posters and statements are hanging outside 21-13. 

 

Mr. Johnson, Middle & High School History Teacher and Social Studies Department Chair
This year, our 8th graders had the chance to create visual projects commemorating the important role the Black experience in America has played in the nation’s history. Students were able to complete quote collages from their own essays on the philosophies of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X, as well as from the New York Times’s 1619 Project. They also created collages celebrating Black people’s contributions during the Roaring Twenties.

Another assignment eighth graders were tasked with was creating blackout poems from historical documents. The purpose of the poems was to take a historical racist document from America’s legal or social history (examples include the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act and the Supreme Court’s decision in Plessy v. Ferguson, among others) and blackout sections to create a message of Black empowerment and acknowledgement of systemic racism.

In 9th grade Ancient Civilizations, we were able to take multiple trips to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to visit the special exhibit on the African Origins of Civilization, a theme from our studies in the first Trimester. We created Eintou poems, which are a distinctively African-American form of poetry. The name itself is West African for 'pearl,' suggesting the phrase 'pearl of wisdom.' Students were asked to capture the contribution of ancient African civilizations via decorated Eintou poems.

Students taking American History and the Supreme Court were asked to compare and contrast the first three Black Supreme Court Justices: Thurgood Marshall, Clarence Thomas, and Ketanji Brown Jackson. Students explored their biographies and looked at past decisions of theirs from the Court to create venn diagrams of the three Justices.