DC Public Schools Celebrates Black History Month

Art showcases, a journey through time, and a surprise visit from one of DC’s most influential figures.

DC Public Schools students and staff participated in an array of events this February in celebration of Black History Month, engaging their communities to highlight the contributions and achievements of African Americans throughout history. 

Watkins Elementary School: Agent of Change Career Day 

Mayor Muriel Bowser surprised Watkins Elementary School’s fifth graders with a visit for Career Day. In the style of a Jennifer Hudson Spirit Tunnel, Mayor Bowser entered flanked by an enthusiastic performance from the Watkins Bucket Drumming Club. She fielded questions from students about how her day is structured and what it’s like to be mayor.  

“Do you see yourself as an agent of change?” one student asked. 

“I think I do,” Mayor Bowser replied. “I probably wouldn’t use those words to describe myself, but everything that we do, and everything that I’ve been able to do as your mayor has been to help change something.” 

“This is what I believe,” she continued, “Things do not stay the same, the status quo rarely maintains… So, we always have to be working towards positive change. Everybody has the ability to lead some kind of change in their lives.” 

“What I want you to remember is that we always have to try to be doing something positive. Because doing nothing, not being a part of positive change, means that you might be a part of letting things decline.” 

Watkins students were inspired by the Mayor, who addressed the challenges of a role like hers. “It’s hard when I have to make a decision that can’t make everybody happy,” she explained. But she encouraged students to fight for causes they believe in, even when facing adversity. 

Jackson-Reed High School: Celebrating Poetry in the Black Box

Jackson-Reed High School welcomed FOX 5′s Gwen Tolbart to their Black Arts Showcase. The evening featured student poetry, speeches, dance, and a series of clips framed as a conversation between the past and the present. 

Zuogwi Reeves, College & Career Counselor at Jackson Reed, spoke on the link between the Arts and Black History Month. “We decided this year to have programming for our young people so they can be able to express themselves in an artistic manner,” he said. “What you’re [seeing] today is students authentically being themselves and using the tool of art to express themselves.” 

Isis Clark, a senior at Jackson-Reed, was anticipating the showcase. “I was really excited about this, because this is a project I’ve wanted to do for a long time, as I’ve been a part of other Black History Month showcases, and I wanted to do something at our school that was very representative of the black student body,” she told FOX 5. 

“That’s important to me, because as a senior, it’s my last year to leave a mark on this school and show up for my community in a way that I would have wanted them to show up when I first came here,” Isis continued. 

She added that while it might be upsetting for some that Black History Month is also the shortest month of the year, February was chosen because of its connection to Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, two figures with birthdays in February 

“I feel that we kind of blow off Black History Month at school sometimes, but it’s a thing for a reason… If we acknowledge it and appreciate it, it becomes a lot more than just the month of February.” 

Maury Elementary School: Journey Through Time 

Maury Elementary School brought back Journey Through Time; an event they have not been able to host since prior to the pandemic. Volunteers led stations throughout the school, immersing students in the people, places, and objects integral to Black history and culture. 

Students from Eastern High School volunteered to man various stations. Tynisha, an 11th-grader, donned historic garb to take the students back in time. “It’s really eye opening, because I’m in character as someone they don’t really know about,” she said.  

“They’ve been trying to ask questions with deeper meanings,” she added. “Especially when I talked about schools and how segregation worked, they were very interested.” 

“It’s exciting to learn about and interact with the historical characters,” said Maury fifth-grade scholar Kodi. 

“I’m very blessed to have [this event] at our school,” added fellow student Bailey. “It’s really interesting, and good to learn about our history and people.” 

Meeting “Rosa Parks” was the highlight of their day.  

For Maury’s Assistant Principal Andrew Lardell, the event was a total success. “It’s amazing to see our partnerships with all of these volunteers,” he said. “This is really bringing the community together.” 

When asked what his favorite station was, Lardell answered, “All of them. We’re promoting Black history; it’s the best thing.”