Students’ Takes on Black History Month

Zephyrus: What does Black History Month mean to you? Guled Said: Black History Month means all the black excellence that you didn’t hear about in school. Black excellence that you didn’t see, that needs to be seen by the world. Because it’s very important. All excellence is important but black excellence … people don’t really see it. There’s beyond rappers and basketball-players; we’ve ...

Zephyrus: What does Black History Month mean to you? Matthias Dewayne: To me, Black History Month is when we recognize people of color, and we remember courageous people and what they did for the rights of African American people all over the world. Z: Do you think EHS sufficiently recognizes Black History Month? M.D.: I have seen a few things that Edina High School has done to recognize Black History Month. F...

Zephyrus: What does Black History Month mean to you?   John Ford: The word “History” means His-Story and Carter G Woodson, the founder of the holiday started Black History Week in 1926 to tell the Black Story.  At that time  Black Americans and their accomplishments were largely left out of the educational curricula during that period. Where blacks were mentioned, it was usually very demean...

Zephyrus: What does Black History Month mean to you? Josh Felton: Black History Month to me is a month to honor African Americans who played a major role in society and fought for their lives and rights. Z: Do you think that Edina High School does enough to recognize Black History Month? J.F.: No. Other than those announcements, I have not heard anything else about black history month. Z: What would you lik...

Zephyrus: What does Black History Month mean to you? Adrian Lampron: To me, Black History Month means a lot about trying to understand the history of black people in our country and people that we know now, today, and the problems that African Americans face in this country now. Because a lot of times, Black History Month is people looking at the past and saying “Look at all the things that people...

Zephyrus: What does Black History Month mean to you? Drew Vanderbilt: I think Black History Month is a month to celebrate what African Americans have done and what they’ve accomplished in this country. It’s meant to just reflect on what we have done and what we can do in the future. Zephyrus: Does Edina High School sufficiently recognize Black History Month? D.V.: I think that Edina High Scho...

Zephyrus: What does Black History Month mean to you? Meti Regassa: Black history month isn’t really spoken about at Edina High School and that’s why I’m excited for the ‘Sun down to Sun up’ event held by the BSU. Although it’s sad that the history of Black people in America is only spoken about in the shortest month of the year it helps people realize the continuing struggle of Blac...

Zephyrus: What does Black History Month mean to you? Uma Jumar-Montei: To me, Black History Month is an opportunity to recognize the roadblocks and obstacles African Americans have fought so hard to overcome. It’s a time to admire the strength and courage of AFrican Americans despite the awful treatment and discrimination they’ve been subjected to throughout history. The systemic racism that AF...

Zephyrus: What does Black History Month mean to you? Adrian Hill: Black History Month is a time to thank all of those who gave up so much so that I could have the life I live today. Everybody from Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X to those who marched alongside them.Personally, I haven’t noticed too much [done to recognize Black History Month] besides the occasional mentioning of people who...