DEEPENING our Understanding
“ As students , you want more opportunities to educate yourselves and get involved on a more impactful level ,” said Grade 11 student Annabel , Racial Justice Alliance Club Captain , in her February 7 , 2022 , address to the Senior School assembly for Black History Month . “ While some of the responsibility is on the School to take steps towards positive change , it is up to each of us to take the initiative to further our own education and involvement .”
This sentiment echoes throughout CHS as we strive to deepen our understanding of Black history and connect this learning throughout the school year . From classrooms to campus life , students and staff are furthering their knowledge of Black history , and they are elevating the more celebratory narratives .
Social Studies 10 , for example , worked on women of courage projects this year . Several students presented projects on influential Black women . Grade 10 student Kate studied Marie Laveau , who is often referred to as the queen of New Orleans voodoo . Kate discovered the comparison between Laveau ’ s more religious connotations in the South and her lesserunderstood entrepreneurial spirit and her work challenging segregation laws .
“ Sometimes , a lot of these women are only seen for more shocking or sensational things , even though there is so much more that they have done and there ’ s so much more in their stories that could be told ,” Kate said .
Two of her classmates had a similar experience researching and detailing the life of transgender LGBTQ + and AIDS activist Marsha P . Johnson . “ In the LGBTQ + movement , we often forget that many people of colour , especially trans people of colour like Marsha P . Johnson , forwarded and pushed the movement ,” said one student .
“ For Black History Month , it ’ s not just about the people who fought for racial rights but also for Black people that fought for different rights like LGBTQ +, because they are also important ,” another said . “ That idea of intersectionality .”
Similar work was done in the Art department this year , as Grade 11 students based their ‘ Creative Sharing ’ presentations on Black artists .
Viela , a Grade 11 student and Club Captain of Studio 65 , presented on Kenyan contemporary artist Wangechi Mutu . “ It ’ s interesting learning about how complex her cultural identity has been ,” Viela said of Mutu . “ Because I ’ m also from another culture , I can relate to her . It ’ s encouraging to see that I can put my own culture into my art .”
“ Black History Month allows us to really dig into the concepts of an artist — especially a Black artist who is under-represented in the contemporary art world .”
Jill , Viela ’ s classmate and Club Captain of the Racial Justice Alliance , studied American fibre artist Bisa Butler . Jill said , “ When we are talking about anti-racism and discrimination now , it ’ s often focused on the actions taken against these groups and on their struggles , but I think it ’ s important to empower them , to lift them up and to give them a place where they are allowed to celebrate and recreate the culture that was largely taken away from them .”
These efforts into deeper understanding go beyond art and social studies in the Senior School . From reading works of Black authors in the English department to learning about historical racism in the Science department , students consider Black history throughout CHS — reflecting , engaging and taking initiative in the conversations about anti-racism .
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