UHS Celebrates Black History Month
Black History Month has been celebrated for over forty years. Carter G. Woodson started Black History month innately as a week long celebration. It started in 1924 and was Negro History and Literature Week, which was later, renamed Negro Achievement Week. It was not until 1976 that it turned into Black History Month and became a month long celebration.
“I think it is important not just for African American students but all students to learn about African American history because textbooks do not reflect all of the components of American history, and this gives us a time to highlight the importance and impact that African American History has had on America,” said Minority Enrichment Program Coordinator, Kellie Blanden.
This year the UHS African American club planned an event every week for the entirety of the month. The first week of February was suppose to be a kick off assembly, but due to the snow day, it was not able to happen. Dr. William Patterson was going to be the keynote speaker. He is the dad of UHS Senior Maya Patterson, and Sophomore Jordan Patterson. Also three sororities and fraternities from the University of Illinois were going to Step, (a style of dancing and drill team routines that is part of the Black Sorority and Fraternity history).
The second week of February, the school hosted NAAPID (National African American Parent Involvement Day) on Monday, February 7, 2011. The purpose of this event is to encourage African American parents to come to the high school and become more involved in their child’s education. This year’s program had a student MC, Jemika Butler and several other students participated on the program as well. The students involved in the program were from the Minority Enrichment Program and the African American Club. There were parent-led break out sessions where the guests could learn about ways to increase parental involvement and Black History in Champaign-Urbana. These sessions were followed by a luncheon and question/answer period.
The third week, African American Club is hosting African American Fun Night on February the 17th from 3:30-7pm in the Commons. There will be games to play and pizza and the event is free. “It’s a chance to celebrate and anyone is welcome,” said Blanden.
The final week of February, the club will show the movie “Hurricane Season” Thursday the 24th after school in the Auditorium; this event is free as well. Hurricane season is based on a true story of how a Louisiana High School basketball team rebuilds after Hurricane Katrina and makes it to the state championship.
African American club meets every other Thursday after school in room 3107. All students are welcome. “It’s [African American Club] fun, we always have something to do for example for Christmas we made care packs that had mini shampoos and conditioners and gave them to the Times Center (a homeless shelter for men), its nice knowing your doing something,” said UHS Senior and member Jasmine Small.
Special thanks to Ms. Kellie Blanden for the information and helping with the article.
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