What’s Right With Our Schools: Harrison Elementary Black History Museum

HARRISON, TN (WDEF) – Black History Month came to life at Harrison Elementary School. Third graders became historic figures in a living wax museum. Students and visitors both learned a lot.

Kyle Powers is in charge of Student Success at Harrison Elementary.

He explains, “All through February, they do Black History projects and do some research, and then they get their individual, and they have to learn about them, come up with a whole presentation. So, then we present it to the school in March, because they do all their learning in February for Black History month.”

Powers continues,”So, we have a living wax museum. So, we have about forty third graders. They have all researched someone famous in Black History, and they have all dressed up like them. They have a speech, and they are becoming that person today. We got the Obama’s, we got Malcolm X, we have Prince, Sojourner Truth. This year we’ve got Kobe and Nipsy Hustle in it. So, just a whole range of entertainers, civil rights activists. Each student has a button that says, ‘Step on me.’ And when someone steps on that button they become,  they come alive. These students have learned so much just about Black History, about the contributions black Americans have made. So, today when all the other grades come, we get to teach them what we’ve learned, and hopefully pass that knowledge on to the whole school.”

Brandon Joynes became Muhammad Ali.

He says, “I didn’t know he won 56 wins. I didn’t know he won 37 wins by KO’s.”

Robert Lockett was Barack Obama.

He says,  “I didn’t know that he was a United States Senator from Illinois.”

Anya Lewis was Michelle Obama.

She says, “She was the first African-American First Lady of the United States.”

Parent Bridgette Lewis says, “It’s awesome. I love it. I feel like all the kids are doing awesome. And it’s awesome that they know the history you know.”

Parent Kendrick Lloyd adds, “I second that. Very educational. Very well put together, great job.”

Powers concludes, “And I think that’s powerful that they are seeing what’s happened and that they are upset about it and they want to make a change, in school and in their community. So, it’s really teaching them to take ownership and be proud of their culture, and also other cultures. Because we don’t just have black students, so we’re learning all different types of culture.”