Black History Month ASM: A School's Ethos Captured in One Morning
On Friday, the 27th of February, New School wove African American tradition and expression into the morning through a memorable Black History Month themed ASM. Students from kinder to eighth grade gathered in the Greater Room to witness an uplifting series of presentations highlighting African American culture, including physical and oral performances.
The event started powerfully with three poems: “Blk Joy” by Roya Marsh, recited by Shalev; a poem by Myrai Mills-Burt, recited by Kyndahl; and “The Hill We Climb” by Amanda Gorman, recited by Abby and Watson. Students then educated the audience about Basquiat, a late 20th century African American artist, and Motown, a style of music that played a part in the rise of mainstream African American songs. To highlight the importance of supporting companies built on Black culture, a presentation was made to endorse local businesses such as the Mission Bowling Club, Rize Up Bakery, Hey Neighbor Cafe, Little Skillet, and Whack Donuts.
Students then demonstrated a dance, percussion, and rap performance capturing the energy of African American and New Orleanian music, and brought the ASM to a conclusion with Alicia Keys’s song “We Are Here” so the audience could leave the Greater Room with a sense of hope and purpose. Certain participants even continued the celebration throughout the morning by passing out bead necklaces colored purple, green, and gold—the hues of Mardi Gras, a New Orleanian festival deeply intertwined with Black History Month.
What struck me the most about this ASM was the fact that all of New School’s ethos—its beliefs, its messages, its hopes in a newer, fresher system of education—could be captured so neatly in a fraction of the morning. New School’s emphasis on celebrating diversity helps build for us a valuable lens through which to view the world, as a place where every piece of culture is a piece of treasure. Thank you to all the students who performed, and to the teachers who helped prepare the event.
