Music, food and unity at our Black History Month family social

This year at ASL, Black History Month (BHM) was celebrated throughout the School in February, and with a vibrant musical performance and traditional food hosted by ASL parents. All were invited, and families of many different heritages joined in this year’s celebration. Read on to learn more about the festivities at February’s FIND African Culture Club’s Black History Month social.

Our ASL community represents many cultural identities, and celebrating differences is key to our mission, values and pedagogy. In the UK, Black History Month occurs in October, whereas in the US, Black History Month is celebrated in February. BHM focuses on and recognizes Black history, historical figures, acknowledging their struggles and celebrating their triumphs. Across the divisions, students created a powerful mural in the High School and school librarians magnified the voices of Black authors through book displays.

ASL parents hosted an inaugural social event to celebrate BHM, and Tolani Enin of the PCA FIND African Culture Club saw an opportunity to bring Black history to the forefront at ASL. With the help of other ASL parents, and despite only two weeks of planning, the event was an absolute success with an impressive turnout. The amazing gospel choir, Ethno Vox, stole the show with their performance; however, the phenomenal food was certainly a close second! Alyssa Smith, one of our lower school librarians, brought along children’s books celebrating Black voices and stories for children to enjoy.

“We wanted to bring the school community together in honor of BHM by celebrating through food, music and poetry. We had a great turnout and a wonderful mix of community members, including many kids. Many thanks to fellow Brown mums Tsega, Kim, Kaliah and Fabi who helped in planning the event!”
—Tolani Enin

In case you missed it, see below for the Black History Month social highlight reel.

As ASL’s first BHM social, it couldn’t have gone better—and we hope this will become a tradition for years to come. Inclusivity and diversity is at the heart of an ASL education and we see the importance of amplifying the voices of all of the cultural communities within our school, creating a feeling of belonging and community for all. We believe it is important to continue our recognition and celebration of Black experiences in dialogue with the multiple voices and experiences in our diverse community. 

Keep an eye out for more exciting family socials via Take Note! FIND (Family INtegration Diversity) has been busy brainstorming ideas for other inclusive events, such as a family VR games day, theater visits, and more.