Another February has just passed which means that Black History Month was celebrated recently throughout the MICDS community. Once again, the MICDS Black Student Union (BSU) planned several informative and celebratory events to honor Black history and culture. “Our theme this year is The Black Bond—amplifying Black culture’s connection between the past, present, and future,” explained BSU Co-Head Zoie Tolson ’24 during an Upper School assembly where the Black History Month festivities were announced. “All month long, we will celebrate the unique and unifying bond between individuals of the Black diaspora.”
At that same assembly, Jada Greer ’24, BSU Co-Head, added, “The late Archbishop Desmond Tutu reminds us that our humanity is bound up in each other, and we can only be human together. This month’s theme focuses on that connection—between grade levels, between generations, between our past and present. The history of Blackness in the United States may derive from bondage, but that is not where our story ends or begins.”
Throughout the month, our Upper School Rams had the opportunity to participate in a number of Black History Month events, conversations, and presentations. The first event on February 2 was the Kickoff Kickback. BSU hosted this gathering at the start of the month for students to enjoy fellowship along with snacks in Hearth. “I have to say my favorite part of Black History Month was our kickback in the senior commons,” said Greer. “Everyone came, we had an amazing mix of people from all grades—even some in middle school and two Beasley younger siblings. There was food, fellowship, and fun as we all came together to laugh and mingle.”
Following the kickback event, on February 3, all were invited to see the annual Black Anthology performance at Washington University. Then, on February 5, MICDS welcomed Rhyan Henson ’10 to deliver the annual Erik Lyons Bond ’77 Lecture. Henson is a national political anchor-reporter currently living in Washington, D.C. Along with his visit, BSU hosted a meet-and-greet with Henson before the lecture.
The week of February 12, the MICDS Passport Series hosted St. Louis native Vivian Gibson, author of The Last Children of Mill Creek, a memoir about her childhood in a predominantly-Black neighborhood in St. Louis before it was destroyed to build a highway. This event also featured a showcase of Black-owned businesses. Next, the iDentity club hosted the Student Diversity Leadership Conference on Wednesday, February 28. That same evening, BSU hosted a small dinner with Black families from MICDS Lower, Middle, and Upper School to enjoy more time for fellowship.
In addition to these events, BSU students presented at US assembly about Black artists and public figures who inspire them creatively and remind them of the pride of the Black community. “To connect BSU and represent Black History Month to the rest of the Upper School community, members of the BSU Club shared their artistic abilities during assemblies,” said Tolson. “It was remarkable to see Black creativity in our school, which I previously did not know about, shown through the different forms of media: poems, visual art, and musical composition. To expand beyond the walls of our school, each person who shared their artistic abilities connected to a family member and Black public figures that inspired them. It allowed the Upper School to see Black excellence, not just in public figures but also within our school.
Tolson gave an example. “Camden-Sinclair Miller ’24 shared his story of finding an outlet in making musical beats. After the assembly, it shocked me how many people were unaware of this hobby he shares on social media. Teachers and students wanted to hear and support his created beats. The informational assembly reached people in a way that kept everyone interested and asking questions afterward.”
Beyond the assemblies and events, students were also welcome to purchase a custom Black History Month sweatshirt designed by Akira Washington ’26.
Thank you to BSU, Upper School English Teacher and BSU Faculty Sponsor Celeste Prince, and the full MICDS community for celebrating Black History Month 2024! Greer added, “I absolutely want to shout out Ms. Prince because although we Co-Heads did a lot, this month would not have been as much of a success without her. She is an amazing faculty sponsor and never fails to help us bring the BSU and the greater MICDS community together during this amazing month.”
What a wonderful month of being human together, connecting across generations and cultures as we recognized, honored, and celebrated the Black Bond.