Students' artwork displayed at African American Museum for entire month

Our students, all on their own time, worked to create different pieces with the theme being ‘what black history means to you?’”

Gabriella Franza Assistant director of instructional programs

The Baldwin School District kicked off Black History Month by collaborating with the African American Museum of Nassau County last Wednesday.

At the museum, located at 110 N. Franklin St. in Hempstead, 30 pieces of student artwork, grades 6 through 12, was unveiled. The work ranged from drawings, paintings, poems, sculptures, photography, and digital art. The event shined a spotlight on the creativity and talent of Baldwin students through celebrating black culture.

“Our students, all on their own time, worked to create different pieces with the theme being ‘what black history means to you?’,” Gabriella Franza, assistant director of instructional programs, said. “And so students explored different mediums to express that.”

Jayson Mehlman, senior at Baldwin High School, displayed a visual representation of what black history meant to him. His work was a black and white collage painting, demonstrating artistry of the 1830s.

“Given the month of Black History Month, now is the tine for people to expand the bubble that they live in and learn about different cultures and history,” Mehlman said.

Mehlan said he noticed that a lot of his fellow classmates aren’t aware about certain aspects of black culture and history. He believes it’s important that people learn about not only just other people’s background, but their own.

The idea for hosting this event came to Franza after she had discussions with students. They wanted the public to see what their feelings and thoughts were on black culture. After connecting with the African American Museum, Franza worked on establishing how the museum will collaborate with the students.

“This event just came from talking to students about how important Black History Month was to them,” Franza said. “And how they wanted to cooperate with an institution that feels the same way.”

The school district will continue celebrating black culture through other events throughout the month. Every day for February at Baldwin High School, announcements are made, teaching students about black people of influence. There are also lessons within the classrooms that are curated to understand black history.

“I think it’s also important to note that in Baldwin, we celebrate black history especially in February, but black history is American history,” Franza said. “And it’s important that we do this all throughout the year and that these lessons and conversations exist all throughout the school year.”

Franza explained that when the black community was silenced in the past, art was used for black Americans to resist, grow, and share their feelings. This is ultimately what the students at last week’s event hoped to do and will continue to do so with future creative projects.