Clairbourn Celebrates Black History

Clairbourn School eighth-graders Elon Mahone and Gabby Ellis, along with a multi-age group of volunteers, raised awareness and deepened the understanding of their fellow students with a series of Black History Month skits at the school’s morning Chapel assembly. Once a week, during the month of February, they presented the achievements of famous black men and women, but only revealed their names at the end so the student body had a chance to guess the person’s identity and win a prize.

The story of Ruby Bridges, the first black student to integrate an all-white school, was the first biography to be shared, followed by a tribute to poet, author, actress, activist, and playwright Dr. Maya Angelou.

Famous sports figures Willma Rudolph, Serena and Venus Williams, Jackie Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Deion Sanders, and Kareem Abdul Jabbar were also featured, and a special “Flo Jo Sprint Fitness Challenge” was assigned to students to honor Florence Griffith Joyner (“the fastest woman of all time”).

A special highlight included a skit by fifth-grader Gabriel Foreman and his father, Gary, re-enacting a battle as Tuskegee Airmen. A short video clip of their presentation can be seen below.

Clairbourn School, 8400 Huntington Drive, San Gabriel, (626) 286-3108 or visit www.clairbourn.org.