Harrison Elementary ends Black History Month with living wax museum

HAMILTON, COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) – Chattanooga’s Harrison Elementary School hosted its annual Black History Month living Wax Museum.  

“This is our fourth year doing the wax museum, this year. This is probably our biggest one. We had the most kids, but we do it every year. This is the first year we fit it all in February for Black History Month,” said Harrison Elementary Assistant Principal Kyle Powers. 

Third grade students dressed up as history making Black figures ranging from Booker T Washington to Vice President Kamala Harris. 

Powers says it is important these students learn about Black History. 

“When you ask students about some famous black individuals, they often say, “Oh Martin Luther King or LeBron James.” They do not really know people from the past or people who are not as famous,” Powers said. “So, this really helps them to get to know some prominent figures they might not know and also helps educate other students.

According to Harrison Elementary more than 50 third grade students participated in this year’s Black History Wax Museum.

Luke Howard, who is a third grader at Harrison Elementary says he learned a lot through this Black History Month living lesson. 

“Black history is a big thing. There were a lot of black celebrities. And back in the day, black people were not always treated good,” Howard said. 

Harrison Elementary believes learning about Historic African Americans is a big deal. 

Powers hopes the students will continue educating others about Black History for years to come. 

“I’m hoping all students of all races just appreciate what black Americans contributed to the world, and how much they paved the way for things that we do not even know about. For instance, the traffic light. There are lots of things that students don’t know, and we want them to learn Black History, that way we are really celebrating black excellence,” Powers concluded.