February 24, 2023 | Jeffrey Good
At Acceleration Academies across the nation, graduation candidates and educators found ways to celebrate Black History Month by taking a fresh look at American history — and the way African American leaders, their families and the GCs themselves enrich it.
At Lowcountry Acceleration Academy in North Charleston, South Carolina, graduation candidate advocate Kiana Bolton and academic support coach Kristi Andrews organized a rich schedule of events that invited young learners to celebrate not only household names, but also Black athletes, musicians and thought leaders who had done the hard work of pushing through barriers to excel.
They began with a tailgate party right before the Super Bowl, with plenty of pizza and plenty of information about pioneering Black athletes. Graduation candidates also got to learn about, and listen to, the pioneering musicians of Motown and to try their skill at Black History trivia. Andrews created an inviting mini-museum featuring, among other things, the day when Black slugger Hank Aaron surpassed the baseball home run record set by White star Babe Ruth.
The LAA activities didn’t focus just on celebrities, but also invited GCs to learn about the history made close to home. Bolton hails from family steeped in the Gullah traditions of the South Carolina Lowcountry, and she brought in baskets that her grandmother weaves from sweetgrass for the young people to admire as part of a series dubbed “Kahoot with Kiana.”
“They are just phenomenal,” LAA Director Amber Speights said of the educators. “They take the time to bring education to life.”
LAA was just one of the academies where history is providing both education and inspiration. At Bethel Acceleration Academies in Washington State, GCs were invited to weave Black History into their studies in consultation with their coaches. At the Ector County, Texas, campus, learners heard from a Black police officer who encouraged them to write their own version of American history. And at other academies across the nation, learners and educators celebrated the contributions of Black Americans.
At Escambia County Acceleration Academies in Pensacola, Florida, graduation candidate advocate Imani Hicks and her colleagues invited GCs to bring in food that reflects Black traditions, and to create posters featuring Black citizens who have helped weave the fabric of our nation.
“We wanted to celebrate Black History Month by creating a space where iconic individuals who’ve made significant contributions to American history are not just acknowledged with a few posters on your classroom walls but really talked about and digested like the food we’re sharing here today.
“There is no way we can explain Black History or its endowments to how life works for us today in 28 or 29 days out of the year,” said Hicks, referring to the fact that February is designated Black History Month. “We can, however, start by providing safe spaces to learn about amazing people, who did amazing things during not so pleasant times. And what better or safer place to be educated than an education system?
“What we have here today is communion over food, activities, and conversation,” she continued. “This is how you gain cultural competence in shared spaces.”
