Celebrating Black History at Detroit Prep & 5 Ways you can Celebrate All Year round!
It’s the time of year dedicated to celebrating and amplifying the contributions of Black people which can so often get overlooked and under-recognized. Here at Detroit Prep we strive for inclusive and equitable spaces for children, their families, and staff all year around.
“Here at Detroit Prep we strive for inclusive and equitable spaces for children, their families, and staff all year around.”
Still, in the frosty month of February, in order to take special care to expose our school community to all the flavor Black voices have to offer we assembled a Black History Month committee!
Our goal was simple yet powerful, to expose our school community to present day Black achievements and Black culture right here in the city of Detroit! Volunteers within our amazingly beautiful school community jumped at the opportunity to celebrate, educate, and share their experiences. There were experiences at every level. From classroom door decorating, grades K-2 expert visits from local artists and authors, grades 3-5 learned from local entrepreneurs such Good Cakes & Bakes and more, our halls were graced with Black excellence.
“Our goal was simple yet powerful, to expose our school community to present day Black achievements and Black culture right here in the city of Detroit!”
One thing about Detroit Prep, we show up and out for our kids! A call was made to parents and staff of our school district for any graduates of a Historically Black College or University (HBCU). With honor and pride so many were ready to share with our middle schoolers their college experiences and moments of joy. As a culminating experience to this year's Black History Month celebration, we had our first ever greek step show!
A true HBCU experience would not be complete without the Greeks! On March 1, 2024 members of The National Pan-Hellenic Council, a council of nine international historically Black Greek letter sororities and fraternities, also known as the Divine Nine stomped, jumped, and clapped for our Detroit Prep students.
Members of the illustrious Divine Nine such as Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity showcased their pride for their organizations with a flawlessly choreographed stroll. We ended the show learning the 2009 dance, the swag surf. A time, was had in February! But, Hey, why stop in February?
Here are 5 ways you can support Black people throughout the year:
Educate yourself.
Learn about Black history, culture, and experiences. Read books, articles, and watch documentaries.
Amplify Black voices.
Use your platform to elevate the work and voices of black individuals. share their content, promote their businesses, and highlight their achievements.
Support Black-owned businesses and Artists:
Make a conscious effort to shop at Black-owned businesses, hire Black owned services and support Black artists and creatives by attending their shows and buying their work. Start Here!
Mentor or volunteer
Mentor or volunteer with organizations that support Black youth in communities share your skills and experiences to make a positive impact.
Be Consistent:
Most importantly, be consistent in your support. Don't just show up during Black History Month or when it’s trendy. Show up everyday, all year round!