Our community schools team celebrated Black History Month with a vibrant lineup of community nights in February. These evening events at local schools offer students and their families enriching activities, cultural experiences and shared meals, creating meaningful opportunities to connect with each other and the broader community.
Knapp Elementary embraced the power of music and movement with a Motown-themed celebration. Families enjoyed activities that highlighted the legacy of this iconic record label, which shaped the cultural landscape of America. Students danced, listened to classic Motown hits, participated in storytelling, and engaged in hands-on activities that brought the history of Motown to life.
At The Academies of Racine at Mitchell, the celebration focused on African roots and culture. Families explored the richness of African traditions, with middle school students performing a traditional African dance and Milwaukee nonprofit leader Ajamou Butler demonstrating African drumming. Leading up to the event, students researched different African countries, created posters, and learned about the unique cultures and shared connections across the continent.
Julian Thomas Elementary hosted a celebration themed “A Century of Black History: Celebrating 100 Years of Significant Moments.” Students brought history to life with performances highlighting figures such as Muhammad Ali, James Brown, the Jackson 5, Barack Obama and Kamala Harris. The evening included a moment of silence to honor Reverend Jesse Jackson, a lively Soul Train dance, and concluded with a student performance of We Are the World. Families enjoyed dinner featuring baked chicken, mac and cheese, green beans, dressing and desserts.
Overall, these events were an inspiring celebration of Black culture and history. We are proud to create these treasured experiences for families and grateful to our community school team, partners and Racine Unified staff for going above and beyond to support the next generation of leaders.