Blog

Every year at RAA, we celebrate the rich array of cultures that make up our community and beyond with a special Heritage Highlight chapel and festival. Last year, we explored Hispanic Heritage during Hispanic Heritage month, and this year, we turned our focus to Black History and African American Heritage during Black History Month, creating a colorful and exciting event that we could all enjoy and learn from.

As we got ready for the event to start, you could feel the energy in our school gym rising in anticipation as parents were seated and awaiting the entrance of the students. After a quick prayer and introduction, Ms. Mazo gave the cue and each grade moved forward for their turn to cross the stage, dressed in bright attire that represented the African countries they had studied and waving flags with much enthusiasm as they headed towards their seats. Once all the classes were seated, the program began in earnest with different classes and groups getting up to share dances, songs, or memorized speeches with us. It was such a beautiful showcase of hard work and cultural exploration and appreciation. From the 6th grade, which was led by a parent in a song sung in an African dialect, to the 4th grade, which danced onto the stage and performed a Rwandan dance, also guided by a parent, we were treated to a diverse range of performances. The high school Kantorei lent their voices to the celebration with another song, and we even had a group composed of elementary, middle and high school students who worked together to form a band made up of four singers, a pianist, and a drummer, showing us the power of music to unite. Another memorable moment was when the 5th grade class recited Martin Luther King Jr.'s “I Have a Dream” speech which they delivered in front of K-8th grade students, teachers, and parents from memory.

Peppered through the program were a couple of powerful video presentations that lended well to the overall program. One video (courtesy of Kid President), though a blast from the past, told the story of Martin Luther King Jr. in a simple yet poinent manner, sharing timeless lessons. Another video provided a broader overview of Black history in the United States as a song that gave us examples of how Black and African Americans have contributed to the US as we know it, and emphasizing the importance of unity, mutual respect, and sharing stories of all the people that have helped get us where we are today. 

Our guest speaker, an RAA (though it was RJA at the time… if you know, you know) alumnus who attended the school for his 2nd grade year, delivered a powerful and soul-touching message about the importance of embracing our differences. Using the analogy of a puzzle, he emphasized that each of us, unique and beautiful on our own, is essential to the whole puzzle. The speaker also shed light on some of the contributions of Black and African American inventors, highlighting the “invisible” inventions that have helped shape our world and give us things that we rely on today in our everyday lives.

After another prayer and a little table shuffling, we began our festival. We “traveled” to different African countries, exploring student-created posters and table displays while enjoying delicious snacks from some of the nation's tasty cuisines. It was a wonderful community opportunity to learn more about the diverse cultures of Africa that we also may find through people we meet in the United States. 

This year's Black History Month and African American Heritage celebration was a vibrant and exciting program that brought our community together. It was a powerful reminder of the importance of honoring history, celebrating and respecting cultural diversity, and recognizing the unique contributions of every individual. We are so proud of our students and teachers as well as parent volunteers for all their hard work to make this event possible. And I can definitely say that I am looking forward to next year's Heritage Highlight to learn even more about the different cultures and people that surround us and celebrate the beauty that comes from those differences.