Black History Month

Black History Month is a month dedicated to the African-American Community, and is a holiday that is vital to the society. February celebrates people that have made history from 1849 through the present. People like Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., and Harriet Tubman are vital to this celebratory month. Black History Month is about celebrating freedom from slavery and partially overcoming racism.  Mr. Joseph Dwyer, Coordinator of Social Studies at Nutley Public Schools, described what is being done throughout the district for Black History Month. 

There are many ways to celebrate this holiday. Due to COVID-19, it has changed the way people can celebrate their gatherings.  The New York Times encouraged visitors to, “Join the Urban Park Rangers for a series of distanced outdoor events in New York’s Central Park that will explore the city’s Black history.” In New York, this is one of the many ways they celebrate Black History month. By celebrating in the park, this is a good alternative way to celebrate this month while being socially distanced.  

Mr. Dwyer spoke about the importance of recognizing this monthlong celebration. He says that, “it is very important to the social studies department that Black history is American history.”

One of the NHS social studies teachers, Mrs. Amy Gewecke, created a club called The Diversity Council. Members use social media to highlight individuals in the African American community such as MLK, Claudette Colvin, Rosa Parks, and Harriet Tubman, also the work of members of the Black community that are making a difference today. "The staff has a number of other plans for promoting Black History Month over the next few weeks," Mr. Dwyer said.  "Overall, we believe that our ongoing work to focus on the accomplishments of Black Americans, along with our unique efforts this month in particular, will help promote a topic that is so important to our history and our present.”