Park must become more racially aware

Seniors Jonathan Ayele and Zoya Block celebrate during the Black History Month performance on Feb. 29.
Seniors Jonathan Ayele and Zoya Block celebrate during the Black History Month performance on Feb. 29.

IB English teacher Julianne Herbert said she wishes her seniors had the opportunity to attend the Black History Month show Feb. 29.

Because of the rigor of the IB Programme and the fact that she only had approximately two months left with her students before the IB exam, she chose to miss the performance.

However, it is essential for all students to attend the Black History Month show, especially those whose classes lack diversity.

Herbert and many other teachers at the high school experience classes with students absent very often, because of myriad school and extracurricular activities.

Though she wished she was able to bring her classes to the performance, she couldn’t sacrifice more class time and decided to put the class curriculum above the performance.

The Black History Month performance featured a video about the history of prominent black leaders, ranging from Beyonce to the Black Panther Party. The show educated students who attended about topics they previously may not have understood, and created discussion regarding race issues in the Park community.

The show aimed to increase awareness about issues regarding racial equality, and it is therefore important for students of all backgrounds to attend.

Although many classes like Herbert’s couldn’t attend either showtime, it is essential for students to become educated on these topics in order to make progress on racial issues.

Part of the video presented at the show explained the Black Panther Party’s actions, brought to the world’s attention with Beyonce’s performance at the Super Bowl. The video shed light on the Party’s approach to achieving racial equality, including challenging police brutality in Oakland, CA.

Without attending, it is unlikely students would have access to these racial discussions, as many history classes skip learning about the Black Panther Party and its impact on the Civil Rights Movement.

Teachers should not be allowed to choose whether to have their classes attend the performance. They are required to cover the content of their classes, but it is also important to be educated about racial inequality. Attendance at the performance should be mandatory.

By requiring students to attend the show, they can experience an extension of their classroom learning.

All students, regardless of class rigor, should be required to attend the Black History Month performance to increase racial awareness in the Park community.