February is Black History Month, an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. KIPP Texas proudly champions this month as an additional opportunity to educate our students about the struggles and celebrate the triumphs of African American history.
“Black history is American history, European history, African history, Caribbean history and so on…” said Tristan Jones, teacher at KIPP Houston High School. “Black History Month is a brief opportunity to highlight the vast ways that Black people – and that’s all Black people, not just African Americans – have contributed to the validity and solvency of the United States of America, as well as countries across the globe.”
The KIPP Texas theme for this year’s Black History Month celebration is “Lift Every Voice,” which is inspired by The Negro National Anthem written by James Weldon Johnson. The lyrics of the song directly reflect the impact KIPP Texas strives to make.
“Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us,
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on till victory is won.“
We acknowledge that the road to a more equitable society is far from finished, and we are grateful for the opportunity to help pave it. At KIPP Texas schools, we educate and empower the leaders of the future, and our work has never been more important. So join us this month as we highlight the stories of KIPPsters and other prominent figures throughout history.
Be sure to follow along on social media this month as we provide a platform for our students, teachers and members of the KIPP Texas community to make their voices heard.