Black History Month Assembly

During the month of February, Janis Dismus Middle School had a Black History Month Assembly. In the assembly, three African musicians came to our school to talk about the importance of drums. Drums are important because in African history, people came to trade from other villages and there was a chance they did not speak the same language. In the assembly, we learned that there are an estimated 2,000 languages spoken in Africa. This makes Africa one of the world's most linguistically diverse continents. Africa is the second largest continent in the world, both by population and land area.

Drums were also very important for rituals that included spiritual and religious dances. African hand drums are played to communicate, celebrate, mourn, and inspire. They are played in times of peace and war, planting and harvesting, birth and death.

While African history stems from Africa, it is important to note the achievements of Africans in America. It was essential in African American history that in America Africans would get equal rights. Africans rights were gained thanks to civil rights activists like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Ellen Johnsa Sirleaf, and countless others.

President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month in 1976, calling upon the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”

The event also grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Carter G has many inspiring quotes but this one quote struck me the most. Carter said “If the Negro in the ghetto must eternally be fed by the hand that pushes him into the ghetto, he will never become strong enough to get out of the ghetto.” Is very amazing in my opinion.

It is important to note that we have amazing African history in our past, however, we also have so many individuals who help shape present day and our future. Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant. They both impacted life.

By Trenity Rose