Diggs-Latham Elementary Celebrates Black History Month

Amanda Stevenson with students

At Diggs-Latham Elementary School, they celebrated Black History Month with art, dance, music and visits from people in the community.

Teachers who specialize in the arts gave presentations about how their subjects - art, music, dance/physical education - have been influenced by famous African-Americans and by African-American traditions that include symbols of the Underground Railroad and tap dancing.

Amanda Gordon

The presentations began with Amanda Gordon, the art teacher who served as chair of the Black History Committee, explaining the influence of African-American Culture in art from traditional Kente cloth patterns, symbolism, artists of the Harlem Renaissance and modern day painters and photographers.  

Music and orchestra teachers Ann Farthing and John Powelson taught students about Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, tap dancing, and African drumming.  Students formed drumming circles and played several rhythms as small and then large groups.  

For the final specialist presentation, physical education/dance teachers Ross McNeil and Amanda Stevenson kept students moving with some basketball tricks related to the style of the Harlem Globetrotters right after students danced an original choreographed dance to African drumming music.  The movement of the dance reflected coming together, working together and soaring like birds.  

Annie Hamlin Johnson

On Friday, Feb. 21, Annie Hamlin Johnson, the mother of National Black Theatre founder Larry Leon Hamlin, visited the school and gave two presentations to the student body.  “She did storytelling from the perspective of a slave woman and talked about how difficult life would have been during the time of slavery,” Gordon said. “She encouraged the students to realize their freedom and potential today and remember they ‘are somebody.’ 

“She showcased many artifacts from the past including an ice pick, washtubs and her mother's high school diploma from 1913.  During her presentation for kindergarten through fifth grade students, she assisted several students in trying the old tools and even sitting in the washtub.  To end her presentation to third, fourth and fifth grade students, she asked for volunteers to see which students could keep up her pace with some traditional and then modern dance moves.” 

On Tuesday, Feb. 25, Renee Andrews, who works for Forsyth County Public Library, shared songs, stories, and books with third- and fourth-graders.  "Funga Alafia," she said, as she started singing a welcome song to the students.  "Funga Alafia, Ashe, Ashe." 

“She welcomed the students from the heart in the traditional Yoruban language,” Gordon said.  “She continued to share stories that celebrated African-American traditions and encouraged all children, all races and boys and girls to be strong persons in the world.  Throughout the whole month, students were reminded that even though the story of black history began on a sad note with slavery and inequality, today we celebrate that everyone is equal and free.”

The month of celebrating culminated with assembly on Friday, Feb. 28 with a keynote speaker, dancers, singers and other special performances by students, teachers and members of the community.