Three classes from Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary's after school program weathered the cold to celebrate Black History Month with the ArtMobile! Led by teaching artist Jamiani Gray, the students collaborated on a quote-mural, encouraging them to be proud of the color of their skin, their culture, and where they come from.
The lesson started with learning the history of the Pan-African flag by Marcus Garvey. Ms. Jamiani tells the class what each color means. “Red for the blood of our people, black for our beautiful skin, and green for the bountiful riches of our motherland.” Students were then split into groups to create shading and designs on stars that correlated with the flag colors. The creativity of their designs ranged from geometric shapes, to flowers, to self-portraits.
Students then chose from 100+ quotes by prominent Black historical and modern-day figures to be glued on top of their star. Each student was able to add their completed star to the mural in the corresponding color area. Together, these stars represent both the students’ unity and individuality in their identities.
Ms. Jamiani ended the ArtMobile session by calling up students to read a quote from the mural. Each quote was met with applause from their fellow classmates, but the class especially erupted in uproar when one student read a Martin Luther King Jr. quote.
Celebrating the Black History Month through art is a chance for youth to recognize the strength of their people and inspire them to continue building on their legacy. Ms. Jamiani and other AHC staff sought to uplift their creative curiosity and confidence through their collaboration on this mural.