Staff, students recognize, celebrate Black History Month

Margaret Korte
Entertainment Editor

Mason's door — Social studies teacher Michael Mason’s door celebrates Black musicians. Photo by Margaret Korte

“It’s important to celebrate and highlight the achievements of Blacks not only during February but throughout the year,” director of diversity, equity and inclusion, Shane Williamson, said via email.

Webster is spreading awareness about Black history through the month of February with activities that both students and teachers can participate in, like the library’s Black History mural challenge. The mural, painted in 1971 by students and called the “Super Abimus,” features 25 different historical figures, and advisory classes and teachers can try to identify each one.

The library also has two Black History Month book displays, honoring books that celebrate Black stories. The displays feature books like “We Are All So Good at Smiling” by Amber McBride, “Confessions of an Alleged Good Girl” by Joya Goffney, “The Gilded Ones” by Namina Forna and “You Are More than Magic” by Minda Harts.

Library media specialist Liz Forderhase said the library aims to “display books with Black voices.” Bulletin board designs and table displays will also be in the library throughout February.

Through the library’s recognition, Forderhase said she wants to help promote awareness of the month—so students can walk into the library and have no doubt what month it is.

“[Black history is] part of our history,” Forderhase said, “and you can’t say you’re a student of history without understanding. It was minimized for a long time.”

Financial admin Teresa Adams is in charge of the daily announcements and the Black History Month features that run through February. Teachers in the social studies department create the slides and send them to her.

This month, the announcements have honored several people and different groups, including Bessie Coleman, the Harlem Hellfighters and Madam C.J. Walker. The slides usually describe their contributions to history and why they’re important to remember.

Adams said it’s important to spotlight people whose stories haven’t always been told. There has been “an uptick in banning books,” and it’s worthwhile to give voice to those who have been quieted before.

The announcements also run profiles of important figures during Hispanic Heritage Month in September through October and Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May.

The social studies department also commemorated Black history by decorating doors: social studies teachers and their advisory classes set up displays to honor different figures.

Social studies teacher Michael Weber won first place in the door-decorating competition with his design honoring the Tuskegee Airmen: a group of African-American military pilots who fought in World War II.

Weber said he wanted to recognize the Tuskegee Airmen because he teaches the military history class beginning next year. He said it’s important to remember Black contributions to the military specifically because of how much they went through: even the army was segregated.

“They still volunteered and went to fight for a nation that didn’t recognize them,” Weber said. “As we look back, they were looking forward. They fought in the war for what they wanted the country to become.”

Of Black history in general, Weber said, “It is who we are as a nation. [It’s] important to recognize because it forms the basis of our culture today. Their contributions have to be recognized as a major part of the story.”

Juniors Charlie Tomiser and Kayte Tetley helped Weber with the door.

Tomiser is in both Weber’s advisory and social studies classes. He said it took an entire advisory period to complete.

Tomiser said via text, “Black history is vital to American history; it illustrates the impactful contributions and incredible stories of some of the most influential figures in our country’s history, stories which have often been unfairly underrepresented.”

Social studies teacher Alison Bryar won second place in the competition with her design honoring Black talk show hosts, and social studies teachers Betty Roberts and Michael Mason won third place.

Another way Black history was commemorated this month was through the Douglass Night Basketball Game, which was held on Feb. 17. The game remembered Douglass High School, Webster’s all-Black school that closed in 1956.

According to a post on Statesmensports.org, Douglass High School’s basketball team participated in state tournaments with other all-Black schools in Missouri and won the tournament three separate times (in 1939, 1941 and 1955).

In general, Williamson said via email, “Educating our school community on the Black community’s culture, achievements, and traditions allows everyone to not only expand their knowledge, but to obtain a deeper appreciation for their contributions and the positive impact they have and continue to make on society.”