BSUxBanter
Sitting down, I looked around and admired how the museum brought together such a diverse group of people to study Black history. I was impacted, not only by the chronological exhibits themselves, but by the reactions of the people moving through history: I watched as a man silently stood at attention and souluted an all Black company of around 20 soldiers, whose story had been previously lost to history. They never received the honor they deserved, yet a little over 150 years later a man showed his appreciation for a nation that they helped build. How many other Black soldiers are missing photos? Missing textbook pages, museum exhibits? Who will remember them and honor their legacy? While sitting on that same bench, I noticed a Black mother and her young daughter making their way around the exhibit. At each plaque, the mother helped her daughter sound out each of the words as they learned new stories together. The mom offered encouraging words as the girl sounded out the word “emancipation.” Education has been a guiding force in the African-American community. 175 years ago, learning to read was not a privilege this girl could have, as it was barred from slaves during the Antebellum period. As she stumbled through her reading, she exemplified how far Black people have come. Through education, her mom passed on the strength and resilience of the Black women before her. These stories of intergenerational respect, trauma, and humanity appear in every exhibit in the museum and deserve to be recognized. I still remember getting up from my seat and feeling a sense of awe, not just for all that I learned from the stories in the museum, but also from the people around me. The man and the mother and daughter have stayed in my heart, just like the images of the people on the museum walls.
UVA’S MEMORIAL TO ENSLAVED LABORERS The Memorial to Enslaved Laborers is a memorial in honor of the 4-5,000 enslaved people who lived and worked at UVA at any point between 1817 and 1865. The memorial includes 4,000 memory marks in their honor. Check out this website for more.
BHM Edition
SOJOURNER
by Teddy Oakey — A lifetime of battle For rights, and undoing wrongs. Sojourner Truth, her name By choice, not birth A Sojourner to “travel up and down the river, showing people their sins being a sign to them” Years in bondage Yet freedom with rhetoric And honored for fighting each of her wars By being the first person to walk on Mars
Amanda Gorman I admire Amanda Gorman’s gift for poetry and the hope she both verbalized and embodied when she performed her poem, “The Hill We Climb,” at the 2021 inauguration ceremony. Her talent in writing, especially at such a young age, makes her an artistic inspiration to me, and her art uplifts this country by representing a new era where we strive to elevate many different voices and experiences. Mr. Trã Nicholson Mr. Nicholson brings joy to his work and everyone around him. He is kind, patient, generous, and knowledgeable. His support of students from grades 5-12 makes a huge impact, and I am grateful that he is part of our community. rD . Autumn Graves Dr. Autumn Graves is a thoughtful, intellectual African American woman whose leadership and presence as a Head of School continues to model and inspire future African American leaders of the next generation. Mr. Isaiah Fullen Mr. Isaiah Fullen is a teacher in our pre-school, who brings smiles to the faces of children everyday. He has a special relationship with every child he teaches or coaches, because he takes the time to get to know them, listen to them, and show interest in their passions. Page 2
