Celebrating Black Excellence 43 Alumni Baseball

Celebrating Black Excellence All Year Long

By Patsy Vargas - Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

It should be noted that acknowledging Black excellence at AMHS is not just limited to Black History Month in February. By second semester, Black Student Union members have met regularly throughout the school year to embrace their culture, identity, and camaraderie. In August, students were welcomed with morning treats by new and familiar faces on the school terrace. In September, students filled Room 109 to play Black Jeopardy where they tried to guess songs by Black artists or identify historical Black figures. In October, Black Student Union and Latinx Student Union members came together to celebrate Día de los Muertos, a traditional Mexican holiday, in the Sobrato Student Life Center. BSU then kicked off the month of November with a Friday roller skating outing to Aloha Roller Rink at Eastridge Mall. In December, BSU students made a traditional kinara to celebrate Kwanzaa. These monthly activities serve as a reminder to all that Black history should be celebrated and embraced year round. In February, Archbishop Mitty High School continued to celebrate Black excellence. This year, to jump start Black History Month, the school community heard directly from BSU students during the morning announcements. BSU leaders introduced the importance of Black History Month, its origins, and how it would be celebrated on the AMHS campus. Each week in February, AMHS was introduced to various significant Black historical figures. They learned about the pilot Bessie Coleman, the poet Langston Hughes, and civil rights activist Ruby Bridges to name a few. But the learning did not stop there. The acknowledgment of these historical figures and their contributions was also featured on monitors around campus. At any given time, anyone could look up and see the life of Malcolm X or Richard Wright on display. Not only do students celebrate Black history and excellence, staff, such as Head Librarian Tiffani Lewis-Lockhart celebrate various cultural holidays and history or heritage months throughout the school year as

“ Seeing pictures well. During Black History Month, the library displayed various Black authors including Octavia Butler, James Baldwin, and learning more and Elizabeth Acevedo. Students were about people that also invited to participate in the “I Have a Dream” art contest in which they represent me shared art themed around Black history or civil rights. The school social media is so inspiring, account @AMHSMonarchs also displayed I’m glad student-produced content in celebration of Black achievement. Monarchs shared

I get to celebrate with parents and alumni their work, Black History Month pride, and history.

beyond February. “It’s always fun getting to celebrate

”Black History Month,” said senior and BSU Co-President, Amira Thomas. “It is Julian Shearin-Sewell ’22 important that we know our history

so that we can better understand all the contributions Black people have made to this country.”

Senior Julian Shearin-Sewell, co-president of BSU, expressed similar sentiments.

“Seeing pictures and learning more about people that represent me is so inspiring,” he said. “I’m glad I get to celebrate Black History Month beyond February.”

Junior Matthew Stivaletti was the winner of the school’s rst “I Have a Dream” Art Competition with his portrait of Jimi Hendrix. The art contest was held as part of special events during Black History Month. Matthew won a gift card to a Black-owned business and an item from the Lion’s Den on campus.