Uncovering Hidden Figures During Black History Month

Photo Caption: Ms. Elizabeth Ferral’s 8th grade class at Lincoln Elementary.

February is Black History Month, an annual celebration highlighting black history, culture, and the achievements of prominent leaders. In Ms. Elizabeth Ferral’s 8th grade class at Lincoln Elementary, students are learning how important black history is as an integral part of American history.

“I am inspired by Katherine Johnson because even though no one accepted her at her job at NASA, she kept working hard to prove she could do it,” said student Amy Arciniega. Katherine Johnson was a NASA engineer and featured in Disney’s Hidden Figures, a movie about three mathematicians, all African American women, who worked as ‘human computers’ at the height of the space race in the 1960s. They struggled with segregationist policies and chauvinism in the maledominated aerospace field, and students in Ms. Ferral’s class learned just how invaluable their ingenious contributions proved. However, until recently, the three women remained ‘hidden figures’ in American history.

After discussing a few figures in class such as Ruby Bridges, Martin Luther King, Jr., Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson to name a few, and learning of the Emancipation Proclamation and desegregation, each student has been tasked with selecting a black historical figure, conducting a research report on his/her impact, creating a PowerPoint presentation, and presenting to the class the importance of their chosen figure. This three-tiered, cross-curricular assignment meets standards in language arts and social studies.

“I have 23 students in my class, and I provided them with a list of 29 historical figures to choose from,” explained Ms. Ferral. “I chose some prominent figures such as MLK and Rosa Parks as well as more ‘hidden figures’ from a variety of fields, including athletes, scientists, and political activists.”

Student: Emily Mendez

Each student’s research must include information on the chosen individual’s early life, education, notable accomplishments, and why their accomplishments are significant.

By the end of the project, the entire class will have learned about 23 brilliant, talented, and impactful black historical figures. Ms. Ferral expressed that her students are very interested in learning about history and politics as she works to apply it through a current contextual lens. She has witnessed a level of engagement from even her most typically disengaged student population. Class discussions have been quite profound with students taking a real interest in the curricular content. They are astounded with the level of perseverance displayed by these historic leaders.

Student Andrew Rosas commented, “I was inspired by MLK because he didn’t stay silent, he spoke out. His voice was very important.”

Another student, Kristine Timario, expressed, “Rosa Parks inspired me with the way she fought for rights.” “Dorothy Vaughn learned to adapt and never gave up,” shared Gabriela Castillo.

In the case of Ruby Bridges, “It was very brave to attend an allwhite school, so many people were against her,” concluded Emily Mendez.

Ms. Ferral is aware that her students are experiencing constant exposure through social media. “They have opinions on everything,” stated Ms. Ferral. “As a writing exercise, I have them write about current events they deem important, and my students are writing about critical issues.”

In semester 2, their big project was a presidential report which followed the same pattern: research, PowerPoint, and presentation. It was timed perfectly as the United Sates was seeing a presidential election year. “We were in full force trying to keep up with the election. Students learned about the electoral college, the three branches of government, and the presidential inauguration,” explained Ms. Ferral.

Student: Andrew Rosas

This is Ms. Ferral’s first year teaching 8th grade and she emphasized that she wants her students to be well-rounded and prepared critical thinkers as they approach high school and college. She recalls her time in college, entering as a freshman, feeling she was vastly unprepared when compared to her classmates.

“I feel like I had to play catch-up and didn’t have as much exposure as the other students,” described Ms. Ferral. “I want to make sure these kids can compete with the other kids. College should not be their first exposure to these things.”

Students in Ms. Ferral’s class, and around the District, are learning that black history is American history, uncovering the many figures who went unnoticed who helped pave the way for all Americans today.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Ruby Bridges

Rosa Parks

Dorothy Vaughn