Every February, many individuals come together to celebrate Black History Month. It’s a time dedicated to honoring a tapestry of triumphs and cultural influence made by African Americans throughout history. There are many ways you can celebrate this powerful month, but some of us may not know how they can celebrate. Luckily, the Detroit community and Berkley High School’s Diversity Council held informative, fun events, one of them being the virtual tour at Henry Ford’s Museum. This tour shared a lot of historical context about how artifacts like George Washington’s camp bed and the Wright flyer can help individuals discover people and events in Black History. These experiences can inspire us to dig into more untold stories of the past.
First off, our Diversity Council planned a Black History themed spirit week for the week of Feb. 10. The members of the council, including Taylor Ricks who helps organize the events, encouraged everyone to participate and decorated the hallways to fit the theme. Monday was “Pan-African” which could be represented by wearing the colors red, yellow, and green. Tuesday was “Peace and Pj’s” where everyone wore their favorite comfy pajamas while highlighting the nonviolent movements and leaders within the civil rights struggle. Wednesday was “Black Out Wed,” prompting all grades to wear the color black. Thursday was “Throw Back Thursday” that took a fun turn into a creative 90’s hip hop fashion theme. And finally, Friday was Valentine’s Day themed, filled with the colors that represent love and appreciation for some of your favorite folks. Freshmen wear white, sophomores wear red, juniors wear pink, and seniors wear purple. BHS Diversity Council also decorated the halls for this special month that was appropriate for the theme of Black History Month and what it celebrates. Taylor Ricks said, “We made sure to include accessories that would foster a sense of community and hopefully sparked a better understanding of Black communities.”
Additionally, the Detroit Institute of Arts is hosting a Stepper’s Ball, a collection of short films, and an arts and crafts workshop that are all free if you’re a Wayne, Oakland, or Macomb county resident. The Stepper’s Ball is an open community of dancers and members that come together on Feb. 7 at 6:00 P.M. to celebrate and raise awareness of this cherished tradition within black communities. Next, the short film collection is playing on Feb. 15 at 2:00 P.M. and highlights black narratives that transcend national boundaries, such as kid films including different languages that range from French to ASL. The films celebrate the joy, determination, and complexity of being young and black while underscoring the vibrancy of black storytelling. Finally, the drop-in workshop follows the creation of an Adinkra Cloth, which is a hand-printed fabric made in Ghana that includes symbols to decorate objects for the Akan culture and religious ceremonies. It is available Feb. 21, 22, and 23 at 12-4 P.M.
Finally, the Henry Ford Museum is holding numerous tours throughout the month of February. They included a new special tour experience, available daily at 1 p.m. in the Museum Plaza. This tour uncovers black history stories embedded in major artifacts in their collection. Visitors can explore five highlighted artifacts at their own pace, learning from new presenters about the stories behind these items. The tickets are $34 if you aren’t a member. For those unable to attend in person, the tour offered a virtual tour on Feb. 4 at 12:00 PM. This online experience celebrated Rosa Parks’ birthday and gave participants the chance to virtually explore the bus where Parks refused to give up her seat. It is free and online at the National Constitution Center.
Ultimately, with activities and tours in local museums along with Diversity Council’s spirit week and decorated halls, we can respectfully dedicate some time during Black History Month to celebrate and honor black individuals, inventors, creators, and everyone involved with this major month of February. Whether it’s attending a local lecture or simply having meaningful conversation about Black History Month and its significance/importance, let’s commit to making these stories a part of our everyday lives, but especially in February. With this, we can ensure that the spirit of Black History Month continues to inspire and educate many throughout not only February, but the entire year.
