Black History Month: Black Excellence, Thriving and Joy
ALL BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS ARE HELD AT THIS LINK.
BFS Community,
There is so much heartfelt happiness that I feel in service to this community knowing that the office of Diversity, Equity, and Belonging is partnering with all of you in the spotlighting of a continued living legacy that has transformative points of connection within our school. For our community, Black History Month is acknowledged within a nationally-recognized timeframe, but most importantly, the contributions, experiences, and magnified strengths of all peoples’ of African descent are lifted and honored year-round.
Inspired by our work in a community centered on belonging and thriving, our school theme for this year is the Power of Black Excellence, Thriving, and Joy. As Audre Lorde writes: “The sharing of joy, whether physical, emotional, psychic, or intellectual, forms a bridge between the sharers which can be the basis for understanding much of what is not shared between them, and lessens the threat of their difference.”
In a time where living is a conscious act that we are thoughtfully navigating each day, as a community, our time of shared learning and connection will further allow us to stand in power with a legacy of tribulation and with an earnest alignment to our own commitments within the areas of justice, civil rights, authenticity and action.
I am delighted to share the larger scope of programmatic initiatives organized for the school that commenced on Monday, January 17 and will continue through March 1st. These plans are in concert with all school activities including the work of our Brooklyn Friends and Family committees. In their totality, the efforts evidence the foregrounding of a collective of gifts, histories, artistries, songs, writings, images, traditions, communing and stories that comprise the breadth, beauty, power, gravitas, and extraordinariness of the Black experience.
Theme: Black Excellence, Thriving and Joy
Excellence: We are centering Black scholars, cultural workers, authors, and poets including diasporic experiences. See evolving calendar of programming at this link. The programming includes:
- Poetry: Mahogany L. Browne, Poet and Author
- Story: Siomara Bridges-Mata, Artist and SEL Educator
- Diaspora: Bombazo Dance Company; Virtual Family Engagement Community Dance – Sat. 2/26 11a-12pm
Joy: We invite the ways in which you express joy by dancing, singing, reading poetry — we welcome all your videos! Get inspo here.
Resources: Get inspired and add to our padlet.
Voice: As a community we are creating an MLK speech video which centers all our voices.
Our work as a school reflects the continued commitment of a community moving in power and solidarity.
With appreciation & partnership,