Black History month may be over, but the teachings of black history go far beyond the month of February.
The Bowling Green Middle and High School’s Black Culture Club will host its fifth Black History assembly tomorrow morning.
Sheila Brown, associate director of Multicultural Affairs, started the Black Culture Club in 2009.
“My son came home one day and talked about how insensitive and ignorant some of his classmates were,” Brown said. “They were using racial slurs, not being inclusive and there was definitely some discrimination.”
Brown also had a son attending the middle school at the time, which is why the club involves both schools.
“Something didn’t sit right with me,” Brown said. “So I expressed my concerns.”
Brown pitched the idea of creating a program for both the middle school and the high school that would celebrate black history.
The first assembly was held in the high school’s gym and lasted 20 to 25 minutes.
“We tried to incorporate things that students would enjoy,” Brown said. “We made it more entertaining as well as educational.”
The assembly was featured in the BG School Spirit Magazine last year.
Brown and the students in the club spend months planning the assembly. Students from the University tend to have a role in the program as well.
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity has taught the students their steps for their step show for the past three years.
Senior Mikey “Rosco” Blair, will be performing an original song at the assembly, at the request of Brown’s daughter, who attends the middle school.
“Mrs. Sheila’s daughter asked me when I was going to perform for the BG high school and middle school students when we were at the Black Issues Conference,” Blair said. “I received an email from Mrs. Sheila a week later and she informed me about the event and provided me with the opportunity to perform.”
Blair will be performing his new single “Love No E.” Sophomore Tobi Olugbenga, a student from Nigeria, will also be performing an African dance.
The program will also include a step show, a song performed by the Black Culture Club and a tribute to Nelson Mandela.
Students such as junior Raven Thomas wish that they had programs like the Black Culture Club at their high school.
“I went to a predominately white school where there were maybe eight black kids total,” Thomas said. “If there were something like that at my school I would’ve been really happy.”
The program will be about 40 minutes long and will consist of two assemblies, one at 9:30 a.m. and another at 10:30 a.m., both in the high school’s Performing Arts Center Auditorium.
“I want them to see the similarities,” Brown said. “Yeah we look different, but we’re pretty much the same.”
