Aldine ISD Celebrates Black History Month: Honoring Resistance and Resilience

Disponible en: Español

Aldine Independent School District in Houston, Texas, is proud to celebrate Black History Month by highlighting the resistance and resilience of African Americans throughout history. Throughout the month, Aldine ISD will host a series of events and activities aimed at educating staff and shareholders about the contributions of black people to American society and the challenges they have faced and overcome.

This year, the national Black History Month theme focuses on the importance of Black resistance and resilience, a theme purposed to highlight the challenges Africans American faced in order to create history. Challenges such as those of Lonnie Johnson, a celebrated African American inventor who had been instrumental in developing numerous technological innovations. Johnson is perhaps best known for his work on the Super Soaker water gun, but he has also made significant contributions to a wide range of fields, including energy and space technology.

The district will also highlight the Divine Nine and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The Divine Nine refers to the nine historically black fraternities and sororities that have played a significant role in the African American community. These organizations have provided a sense of community, leadership, and scholarship to their members and have been instrumental in the fight for civil rights.

HBCUs were established during a time when African Americans were denied access to higher education, and they have continued to play a vital role in the education of African Americans to this day.

District Events & Activities

Aldine ISD Black History Oratory Competition

The third annual Aldine ISD Black History Oratory Competition began on January 23, 2023. The competition will coincide with Black History Month in February and serve as a districtwide celebration. The competition is open to all Aldine ISD students in grades 3-12. In addition, each campus will host individual campus competitions before selecting the top winner at each campus. Campus competitions will take place between January 23 – February 17. The district competition will take place from February 20-22. To participate in the competition, students will individually create a spoken presentation that relates to the theme, Resilience.

Sounds of Blackness

Aldine ISD Employee Choir performance sent out via email to the district; also shared via social media. If you would like to sign up, use this link. For additional information contact Kenyatta B. Herring, director of choirs at Carver Magnet High School.

Book Study

To honor this important month, the district has chosen the powerful and inspiring book, “Black Joy: a story of resistance, resilience, and restoration.” “Black Joy” is a powerful tale that focuses on the strength and resilience of the black community in the face of adversity. The book highlights the incredible strength of the black community and the ways in which it has persevered and thrived despite the obstacles placed in its way. To further promote this message of resilience, Aldine ISD is hosting a book study event on Tuesday, February 28 from 12-1 PM on Zoom. During this event, participants will have the opportunity to engage with the book, discuss its themes and implications, and connect with one another.