Black history comes to life at Alcorta Elementary School
ABILENE, Texas () – As Black History Month comes to a close, one elementary school celebrated the occasion by bringing history to life through speakers, performances, and a Black history museum.
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Debra Harris, head of the Black history program, said she wanted to highlight leaders whose stories often go unnoticed.
'I wanted something diverse so they could all come together, and they came together as a team. They worked together, they helped each other,' Harris said. 'I also would like them to know that Black history is more than just a skin color, it is actually a person, that is more than just the Malcolm X's or the Martin Luther King's or the Harriet Tubman's.'
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For teacher Richard Green, the importance of Black history is personal. His mother was part of the first integrated class at Abilene Independent School District, and he said she often shared stories of her experiences.
'She would tell me about some of the conflict, like it wasn't perfect by any stretch. There were moments where she knew that some of the teachers didn't really want her there, but it wasn't all bad,' Green.
Despite the challenges, Green's mother found inspiration in one teacher who became a lifelong mentor. Green hopes to be that kind of teacher for his own students.
'She had really, really great teachers like the teacher who gave her this (pictured on the right). His name is Alvin Mathis. He really took her under his wing. This is actually given to her 30 years after he actually taught. So, he was really a teacher for life,' Green said. 'I tell my students every single year, and I tell them so often that once you have me as a teacher, you have a teacher for life.'
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The school's Black history museum gave students a hands-on look at inventions and contributions by Black Americans. The program also featured performances by the step team, Alcorta Puppeteers, and guest speakers.
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