By Helen Chizmazia – Staff Reporter

Jonathan Law’s Black Student Union hosted various events throughout the month of February to celebrate Black History Month.

Activities included a movie theater fundraiser and a school-wide Advisory activity. BSU presidents Gemard Guery and Ike Opayemi said the goals for these events – and others – were to spread awareness during Black History Month.

“Over the course of the month, we started off with a poster project where our members helped make posters that have been posted all around the school,” Guery said. “Ike and I also participated in a library event put on by an African American museum in Stratford.” 

The club hosted a “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” movie night and a Kahoot Advisory competition about important Black culture. 

“We really hoped that people would enjoy and be engaged in these learning experiences that would increase awareness of Black culture and history,” Guery said. 

The Black Student Union meets every Thursday at 4:00 p.m. in Room 207. English teacher Ms. Kelly is the club’s advisor.

“This month we have had informative and active presentations and discussions during Black Student Union meetings where students prepared their own slideshows about different aspects of Black culture,” Kelly said. 

The “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” movie night was held on February 3 in the auditorium. 

“Mostly with these activities we truly wanted people to not only learn but understand the Black experience through more creative outlets like the ‘Black Panther’ movie,” Opayemi said. “Creating BSU and hosting events for the entire school can be the starting point for this and hopefully turn into something even better.”

The Advisory activity was a competition between all classrooms, with the winning Advisory receiving a Dunkin’ Donuts breakfast.

“I really wanted to ensure people were actually learning things during the Advisory,” Guery said. “In the past, our school has done choice boards, but I don’t think they have been really good learning experiences and have just been ignored to some degree so I was hoping that people would partake in a fun activity to learn.”

The purpose of the Advisory activity was to educate students on Black history facts.

“For example, we know that the question specifically about who started the bus boycotts in Alabama was difficult and many thought it was Rosa Parks when it was really Claudette Colvin,” Opayemi said. “Learning these facts in this way can help people around the school better understand our stories and experiences within history and in the current world.”

The Google Classroom code is pbsczb5 for individuals looking to join.

“Black Student Union meetings are open to any young Black boys and girls who want to come to celebrate Black culture and strengthen their community,” Kelly said. 

The Black Student Union has many events in store for the rest of the year and is eager to keep students engaged and learning about Black culture and history.

“We are planning a conversation with a special guest as an in-school field trip,” Guery said. “We are also hoping to work on a service project as well.”