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When Kwanza Price took the lead in organizing Duveneck Elementary School’s celebration of Black History Month, she knew she wanted to do something different.
She didn’t just want students to get educated about Black history; she wanted them to get excited about it.
“I wanted to go beyond these stories of trauma, which are definitely part of Black history in the United States, but really show more about the breadth of Black culture,” said Price, whose daughter attends the Palo Alto school.
So while readings and lectures remain part of the curriculum, the school’s Black History Month celebration kicked off on Feb. 2 to the sound of violins. Shuyinthia Hembry, a Washington, D.C.-based educator and violinist, came to town to offer six music sessions to Duveneck students.
The event is part of a dynamic program that Price helped organize, a bill that will also include a West African Afrobeat demonstration; performances by the Tabia African-American Theater Ensemble; and a lunchtime Double Dutch demonstration by Jump Squad 510, an Oakland group that uses jump rope to promote mental physical and social wellness, according to the program.
The school is also welcoming a vintage jewelry artist who will do art projects with students; putting on presentations by Black professionals in fields such as chemistry, radiology, biotech and math; and inviting parents to read Black history books in every classroom.
Price sees these school-wide events as a departure of sorts from traditional commemorations of Black History Month, during which teachers have great latitude to offer materials that they deem appropriate. Duveneck Principal Brittany Gardner lauded Price’s effort in the school district’s newsletter, calling it a “truly innovative approach to presenting a broad spectrum of Black American history.”
“With over 10 events planned, Black History month at Duveneck will be a robust and carefully curated celebration of Black history, contributions and joy,” Gardner wrote.
Price said she originally hoped to organize an event akin to a Jazzfest, though that proved difficult to put together. She worked with the school’s librarians, who curated a selection of books related to Black history for parents to read in high schools.
Some of her activities were inspired by other parents in the Duveneck community. One couple is from Nigeria and is well-versed in Afrobeat, a music style that includes elements of traditional Yoruba and Igbo music as well as jazz and soul. Toward the end of the month, they will celebrate West African food and music with an “Afrobeats and Eats” event – a grand finale to the month of festivities.
Price also partnered with the San Francisco African American Historical and Cultural Society to provide classes at Duveneck with three 15-minute films relating to Black history: “Migration Stories” and “Harlem of the West,” both of which focus on Black history in California, and “African-Americans and the Vote.”
While the program is just kicking off, Price is already receiving positive feedback. One friend’s daughter, also a Duveneck student, talked about how exciting it was to have a violinist perform in her classroom.
“I want people to walk away with something they didn’t know or have access to beforehand – and just get excited,” Price said.
This is wonderful. I wish that Ms. Price was doing this for all the PAUSD schools. Is there a reason only Duveneck? Or the Duveneck leadership should have a district wide event.