Black History Month Archives
Since 2011, Cedarhurst has engaged a professional, guest artist or music ensemble to perform for over 1600 District 80 students (Pre-K through 8th grade) in celebration of Black History Month. Together, a collaboration between Cedarhurst staff and District 80 educators, creates a dynamic educational curriculum that celebrates the arts, Black excellence, and Black history. The theme for each year’s program is carried through the music, art, library, and T.A.G (Talented And Gifted program) classrooms. Some themes that involve dance are even carried over into P.E. classes as well. Our goal is to educate our students about the important contribution African American people have made to the Arts, our American History and empower our younger generation in the advancement of the Black community and the legacy of its leaders for future generations. At the end of the month, a community program is held to showcase the artwork, research projects, and musical performances by students in our schools. It has become an important culminating event for families to come together and celebrate Black History Month and let the talents of our students shine.
A list by year of the history of this impactful program in our schools and community.
2011- Margaret Burroughs, Printmaking
2012 – Gee’s Bend Quilts
2013 – Dave the Potter, Clay and Poetry – Featured Artist Cortez Hodges
2014 – Jazz Music, Romare Bearden Collage – Featured Artist Juanita Jones and Brett Gibbs
2015 – A Step Above: A Look at African American History through Dance – Featured Artists: Alpha Phi Alpha chapter at SIU-Edwardsville
2016 – Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad
2017 – Blues in the Schools – Featured Artist Super Chikan
2018 – Reggae Revolution – Featured Artist Yard Squad
2019 – I Dream a World – Featured Artist LaDrena Henderson, Diana Patton, Carleka Spann
2020 – African American Folktakes – Featured Artist Bobby Norfolk
2021 – “You should never give up your voice…for anything.” Black Merfolk and Myths from Around the World – Featured artist Jessica Brown (no in-school performances due to Covid restrictions)
2022 – The Harlem Renaissance – Jazz, Poetry, and Art (no in-school performances due to Covid restrictions)
2023 – Africa to America: The Art of Dance – Featured Artist Alicia Sunshine Ghabo
2024 – Blues in the Schools – featuring professional blues musicians from the National Blues Museum, St. Louis, MO
Click a title below to view past programming.
