High school in FL encouraged students to 'dress up' as black leaders

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This is a great idea, on the contrary.

3rd graders in MCPS do a “wax museum”, impersonating important historical figures, some of whom are African American. Dress-up is part of the work, as is writing and memorizing a speech. No one shows up in blackface.

Yes, I think the dressing as a leader part is fine. I feel a bit uncomfortable with the head wrap, but only because I —even as an AA woman— respect that the fabrics of African ethnic groups aren’t mine to wear. I don’t know all the symbolic colors, designs, and folds but many are restricted to certain people who have earned them.

This is a fair point. But I assume kids wearing them for Black History Month are doing it for a respectful reason and even if the message is a little wrong via the head wrap, I still see benefit to it- unless it is offensive.

[Anonymous]

I'm white, so take this for what it's worth. But this seems to lack context. It's for Black History Month, and the history taught is generally black American history right? What African Americans have contributed to the country because these stories are so often absent from our regular history courses, etc.

So clothes, to me, are not the focus of Black History should be. Dress like Mae Jemison or Katherine Johnson or Zora Neale Hurston or whomever. But advertising it as an opportunity to wear traditional African garb seems reductive. And it shows me there likely was no lead up to this with lessons and instruction. And there should have been. Don't do stuff like this in a vacuum. Kids learn nothing, and they often mess up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So now we're offended when a predominantly white school tries to teach african history/traditions?

Where in the f*** did they try to teach african history? Please explain how dressing in all black is teaching information/events/biographies/ANY F**** THING about black history??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So now we're offended when a predominantly white school tries to teach african history/traditions?

Where in the f*** did they try to teach african history? Please explain how dressing in all black is teaching information/events/biographies/ANY F**** THING about black history??

Calm down. There are many ways to teach history. In encouraging students to dress up as well known African or AA figures the students can learn things about their subject matter along the way. It's a way of generating interest in history because most kids are just not really interested in history.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The week-long event, which Kirk said was devised by a group of black students, was scheduled to begin next Monday and featured daily "themes" like:

"Wear your African themed Dashiki shirt"
"Wear an African themed head wrap or turban"
"Dress up as an inspiring black leader from history"
"Wear all black in honor of black history month"
"Wear the colors of your favorite African flag"

I have no issues with this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The week-long event, which Kirk said was devised by a group of black students, was scheduled to begin next Monday and featured daily "themes" like:

"Wear your African themed Dashiki shirt"
"Wear an African themed head wrap or turban"
"Dress up as an inspiring black leader from history"
"Wear all black in honor of black history month"
"Wear the colors of your favorite African flag"

I have no issues with this.

+1
The black student body designed it! FFS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm white, so take this for what it's worth. But this seems to lack context. It's for Black History Month, and the history taught is generally black American history right? What African Americans have contributed to the country because these stories are so often absent from our regular history courses, etc.

So clothes, to me, are not the focus of Black History should be. Dress like Mae Jemison or Katherine Johnson or Zora Neale Hurston or whomever. But advertising it as an opportunity to wear traditional African garb seems reductive. And it shows me there likely was no lead up to this with lessons and instruction. And there should have been. Don't do stuff like this in a vacuum. Kids learn nothing, and they often mess up.

In my school, we expanded to teach a Pan-Black History Month because our kids knew a lot about AA leaders and nothing about those in Africa or any Afro-Latinos. Our demographic is heavily immigrant so it has led to more interests from students than MLK and Rosa Parks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
This is a great idea, on the contrary.

3rd graders in MCPS do a “wax museum”, impersonating important historical figures, some of whom are African American. Dress-up is part of the work, as is writing and memorizing a speech. No one shows up in blackface.

My MCPS 3rd grader isn’t! But I wish they did!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The week-long event, which Kirk said was devised by a group of black students, was scheduled to begin next Monday and featured daily "themes" like:

"Wear your African themed Dashiki shirt"
"Wear an African themed head wrap or turban"
"Dress up as an inspiring black leader from history"
"Wear all black in honor of black history month"
"Wear the colors of your favorite African flag"

I have no issues with this.

+1
The black student body designed it! FFS

So what if Marcus Garvey designed it. It is stupid and non-informational. Where is the INFORMED AND EDUCATED ADULT to tell the kids this is not the way to teach history???
Some of you are truly stupid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm white, so take this for what it's worth. But this seems to lack context. It's for Black History Month, and the history taught is generally black American history right? What African Americans have contributed to the country because these stories are so often absent from our regular history courses, etc.

So clothes, to me, are not the focus of Black History should be. Dress like Mae Jemison or Katherine Johnson or Zora Neale Hurston or whomever. But advertising it as an opportunity to wear traditional African garb seems reductive. And it shows me there likely was no lead up to this with lessons and instruction. And there should have been. Don't do stuff like this in a vacuum. Kids learn nothing, and they often mess up.

In my school, we expanded to teach a Pan-Black History Month because our kids knew a lot about AA leaders and nothing about those in Africa or any Afro-Latinos. Our demographic is heavily immigrant so it has led to more interests from students than MLK and Rosa Parks.

THIS!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The week-long event, which Kirk said was devised by a group of black students, was scheduled to begin next Monday and featured daily "themes" like:

"Wear your African themed Dashiki shirt"
"Wear an African themed head wrap or turban"
"Dress up as an inspiring black leader from history"
"Wear all black in honor of black history month"
"Wear the colors of your favorite African flag"

I have no issues with this.

+1
The black student body designed it! FFS

So what if Marcus Garvey designed it. It is stupid and non-informational. Where is the INFORMED AND EDUCATED ADULT to tell the kids this is not the way to teach history???
Some of you are truly stupid.

who said this is all the school is doing to teach history?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm white, and would have LOVED to dress up at Sojourner Truth or George Washington Carver as a kid - I wrote reports on both of them and found their lives fascinating.

How do you "dress up" like a black person?

It's one thing to wear clothing connected to cultures. (Even I think that's odd and would refuse to do so.)

But how do you become Sojourner Truth? Did GWC wear special outfits that made him stand out?

[Anonymous]

Isn’t this cultural appropriation? I think kids here would be really offended.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm white, and would have LOVED to dress up at Sojourner Truth or George Washington Carver as a kid - I wrote reports on both of them and found their lives fascinating.

How do you "dress up" like a black person?

It's one thing to wear clothing connected to cultures. (Even I think that's odd and would refuse to do so.)

But how do you become Sojourner Truth? Did GWC wear special outfits that made him stand out?

Same way as you dress up as Abraham Lincoln.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm white, and would have LOVED to dress up at Sojourner Truth or George Washington Carver as a kid - I wrote reports on both of them and found their lives fascinating.

How do you "dress up" like a black person?

It's one thing to wear clothing connected to cultures. (Even I think that's odd and would refuse to do so.)

But how do you become Sojourner Truth? Did GWC wear special outfits that made him stand out?

Same way as you dress up as Abraham Lincoln.

This. Black dress, white shawl, cane. It’s the same as you dressing up as Lincoln - but you take on the person’s personna