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Black history comes to life at Williamson Elementary in Youngstown
By Denise Dick
Youngstown
Williamson Elementary School fifth-graders Jose Santiago, Brazon Crump, Eon Franklin and Antoine Sharpe sat in the school cafeteria covered in spaghetti noodles, chopped lettuce and shredded carrots.
The four boys were portraying the Greensboro Four on Wednesday for the school’s Living History Museum.
“They didn’t fight back with their hands,” Antoine, 11, said. “They fought back with their words.”
Fighting with your words is more powerful, Brazon, 11, explained. Fighting with your hands just leads to more violence, he said.
The museum, which was part of Williamson’s Black History Month observance, involved fifth- and sixth-graders researching a prominent African-American from history, creating a poster chronicling the subject’s life and dressing as the subject to present their findings.
Family members and the school’s kindergartners through fourth-graders walk through the cafeteria museum to learn about the students’ research.
In 1960 in Greensboro, N.C., four Agricultural and Technical College freshmen sat at a “whites only” lunch counter, were refused service and stayed until the business closed.
Other customers pelted them with food.
The four students’ protest worked, Eon, 10, said, because black and white people now eat together in restaurants.
Kelli Moreno, a fifth-grade social studies teacher, said she selected Jose, Brazon, Eon and Antoine to pursue the Greensboro Four because they represent a dramatic event she believes the four boys would do a good job conveying the events.
Principal Renee Forester said the project helps students hone their public speaking skills.
Students stood still and silent, their heads bowed until a museum visitor pressed a button sticker on their hand. Then they came to life.
Xavier Franklin, 12, a sixth-grader, dressed in his grandfather’s hat and suit for his report on the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. His gavel was a hammer covered in construction paper.
“He was the first black U.S. Supreme Court judge,” Xavier explained.
Fifth-grader Jadin Robinson, 11, selected writer Maya Angelo for her project. She wore a long, braided wig, dress and sweater with an African print for her character.
“I like writing poems too,” Jadin said.
Sixth-grader Jalazia Johnson, 11, picked Ruby Bridges for her project. Bridges was the first black student to attend an all-white elementary in Louisiana.
“She did it when she was just a little girl,” Jalazia said.
Fifth-grader Ja’layia Jefferson, 11, picked singer Nina Simone.
“She was a Civil Rights activist,” Jalayia said.
Sometimes she listens to Simone’s music, she said.
“When you feel sad, you can listen to her music and you’ll feel better,” Ja’layia said.
Caliyah Cameron, 11, a fifth-grader selected Dr. Alexa Canady, the first woman and first black person to become neurosurgeon.
“I want to be a doctor or her surgeon,” Caliyah said.
She enlisted her little sister, Adri’Niyah Davis, 5, who is in kindergarten, as her patient.
Sixth-graders Savaughn Moore, 13, and Amerie Quinones, 12, portrayed poet Langston Hughes and educator Mary McLeod Bethune, respectively.
Savaughn memorized Hughes’ “Dreams” poem for the event, reciting it with feeling whenever a visitor stopped at his display.
Amerie said McLeod Bethune was a civil-rights activist who became a government official.
“She taught all black children,” Amerie said.
McLeod Bethune started a private school for black children in Florida.
“She was inspiring,” Amerie said. “She inspired a lot of people.”