Students and staff at Memorial Junior High School recently held their annual weeklong celebration in honor of Black History Month. Black History Spirit Week took place throughout the week February 13 and featured a number of special events and activities.
Throughout the week, students were encouraged to wear clothes related to themes that included various 90s hip-hop artists, influential African Americans, African cultural attire, and historically black colleges and universities.
In the mornings, members of various school departments read announcements over the school loudspeakers about influential African-American icons. Additionally, throughout the month, the halls and main entrance of Memorial were adorned with Black History Month- themed artwork made by Memorial’s student artists.
On Thursday, February 16, Memorial had its first in-person, schoolwide Black History Month celebration since 2020. The night started off with Memorial and Central graduate, and future U.S. diplomat, Korde Innis, as the keynote speaker who addressed the students, parents, and staff in attendance. The event was highlighted by Memorial’s students’ incredible creativity, including students performing song, dance, poetry, drumming, step and double-Dutch. Finally, the event finished off with a special performance from an African dance and drum company.
Throughout the month, student-created art was displayed in the school hallways highlighting various aspects of black history.
Students also took part in various performances, including spoken word poetry.
The celebration featured a performance by an African dance and drum company.
As part of the event, Memorial had a schoolwide celebration in which they invited Memorial and Central graduate Korde Innis. He is pictured with Principal Bret Strauss.
Valley Stream Memorial Junior High School celebrated Black History Month with its annual Black History Spirit Week.