Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Celebrates the First Commemoration of Black History Week and the 50th National Anniversary of Black History Month

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CHICAGO - Chicago Public Schools (CPS) will mark Black History Month in February with special District and school events in addition to regular lessons and initiatives honoring Black excellence, resilience, and legacy.

"CPS students are learning where they come from and how Black leaders and visionaries have shaped our society," said CPS Interim Superintendent/CEO Dr. Macquline King. "Through this month's programming-and the work that continues all year-I hope our students feel inspired to shape their own paths forward."

CPS integrates Black history throughout the year through the K-12 Skyline curriculum, which includes units and resources across grade levels that explore Black identities, histories, and lived experiences. To ensure this learning extends beyond a single month, the District's Social Science Department sends faculty monthly newsletters with inquiries that center on Black perspectives. These efforts align with Success 2029: Together We Rise, CPS's five-year strategic plan to deliver equitable, high-quality learning experiences for every student. The Office of Multilingual and Multicultural Education (OMME) will further this work by hosting Celebrating African Diaspora Chicago, an exhibition within OMME offices highlighting the traditions and contributions of Black international and refugee communities across CPS.

"It's important that Black students know and celebrate where they come from,"said Chicago Board of Education Member Aaron "Jitu" Brown (D-5A), chairman of the Board's Black Student Achievement Committee. "CPS is creating intentional spaces, opportunities, and curriculum that honor and uplift the history, contributions, and voices of Black people from all walks of life. We are committed to our students, understanding that they are Black history: their time is NOW!"

Later this month, CPS will host "Chicago Black History of Phillips and DuSable High Schools," a community-based event highlighting the enduring impact of both schools in the Bronzeville neighborhood. The community-based panel discussion will explore the history and legacy of both high schools, and their impact. Additionally, the panel discussion will highlight the significant contributions of the Black community in the renowned Bronzeville neighborhood.

The event panel will take place at Wendell Phillips Academy High School, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The panel event will feature CPS Interim Superintendent/CEO Dr. Macquline King, Chicago State University Professor Dr. Lionel Kimble, DuSable campus Principals Dr. Leonetta Sanders of the Daniel Hale Williams Preparatory School of Medicine and Dr. Demetra Richardson-Starks of Bronzeville Scholastic Institute, Phillips Principal Rashad Talley, DuSable and Phillips students and alumni, along with historian and CPS alumnus Shermann "Dilla" Thomas, a graduate of Auburn Gresham's John W. Cook Academy.

Dozens of school-based events are scheduled for February, including several events listed at the bottom of this release, from honoring biology research by the first female biology professor at Morehouse College, the Atlanta-based all-male Historically Black College and University (HBCU), to highlighting the legacy of the Harlem Renaissance through song, dance, and theatrical performances.

"February not only celebrates Black History throughout the diaspora, we're celebrating the achievements made by CPS students," said CPS Black Student Success Director Eugene Robinson Jr. "The District's commitment to the success of Black students - then and now - is contingent on the supports provided throughout CPS schools and communities."

Kenwood Academy school officials recently earned top recognition from the National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE), a nonprofit organization that uplifts the academic success of African American students. NABSE lauded Kenwood administrators for creating a positive culture featuring robust experiential learning and faculty and staff members who support the school's goals.

Several District schools are the home of a plethora of Black History artifacts students are exposed to on a daily basis:

Arthur Dixon Elementary School showcases three levels of Afrocentric sculptures, artifacts, and paintings. The school is widely recognized as a "museum" within a school. Dixon also hosts "Cultural Connections," an annual African American bazaar, which is held during the second weekend in March. Vendors from around the country often participate.

A large hallway within Englewood STEM High School commemorates the history of the shuttered schools in the Greater Englewood community, such as William Harper, Paul Robeson, and Englewood high schools, along with John Hope Community Academy, among others.

Burnside's Harold Washington Elementary School houses a 1980s Cadillac, once owned by the school's namesake, the city's first Black mayor and DuSable High School alumnus.

The District's Black Alumni/Educators
Black Excellence within District schools spans decades with CPS alumni who've made their mark in the world through a wide array of fields and human endeavors. Just some of the many CPS alums and educators include:

Author, historian, civil rights leader Timuel Black (Jean Baptiste Point DuSable High School)

Educator Maudelle Brown Bousfield, the District's first Black principal and first Black woman graduate at the University of Illinois' Champaign-Urbana campus
Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Gwendolyn Brooks (Englewood High School)

Educator Margaret Burroughs, co-founder, DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center (Englewood High School)

Chance the Rapper (Jones College Prep)

Marshall High School Girls' Basketball coach Dorothy Gaters, winningest coach in Illinois high school state basketball history (John Marshall Metropolitan High School)

Engineer/astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison, the first Black woman to travel into space (Morgan Park High School)

Comedian/actor Bernie Mac (Chicago Vocational Career Academy)

First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama (Bryn Mawr Elementary, School, Whitney M. Young Magnet High School)

Recording artist Lou Rawls (Dunbar Vocational Academy)

Chicago Bulls legend Derrick Rose (Beasley Academic Center, Simeon Career Academy)

Additionally, as many will watch next week's Super Bowl LX between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, they'll possibly get a glimpse of the latter team's wide receivers coach and CPS alumnus Frisman Jackson. Jackson, a 1997 graduate of Morgan Park High School, played four seasons in the National Football League (NFL) before embarking on an impressive assistant coaching career.

Finally, of note, several District schools and facilities are named after historical Black figures and these include:

Austin's Michele Clark Academic Preparatory Magnet High School's namesake was the first Black woman to be named a CBS News correspondent.

Oscar De Priest Elementary School is named after the first Black man to serve in Congress during the twentieth century.

Roseland's Mildred I. Lavizzo Elementary School is named after the District's first Black woman supervisor of teacher nurses.

Lane Tech College Prep High School's football field is named after school alumnus Fritz Pollard, a three-sports star who went on to become a professional football and college sports trailblazer.

Pullman's Wendell Smith Elementary is the namesake of the newspaper reporter who covered the early stages of Brooklyn Dodgers second baseman Jackie Robinson's career as he broke Major League Baseball's color barrier in 1947.

Jacqueline B. Vaughn Occupational High School is named after the first Black woman to become president of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU).

This year's Black History Month observance coincides with two historic milestones: the first-ever commemoration of Black History Week in 1926 and the 50th national anniversary of Black History Month. Black History Month traces its roots to historian Carter G. Woodson-namesake of a CPS school-who launched "Negro History Week" in February 1926 to align with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Fifty years later, in 1976, the observance expanded into Black History Month, officially recognized nationally as a month-long national celebration.

A sample of some school-level Black History Month events are listed below. Reporters are welcome to attend these events but first must confirm attendance with the CPS communications department at [email protected].

Feb. 2, 3 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Chalmers STEAM Elementary School, 2745 W. Roosevelt Rd.
Chalmers STEAM students and staff will unveil a new chicken coop featuring five hens and two roosters, along with a plaque that will read: Continuing the Legacy of Dr. Mary Logan Riddick. Students will also learn about Dr. Riddick's research on the development of chicken embryos and how it relates to human embryonic development. Riddick was the first female biology instructor at Morehouse College.

Feb. 5, 3 p.m. - 6 p.m.
OMME Center, 3320 W. Evergreen Ave.
"Celebrating African Diaspora Chicago," an exhibition featuring the traditions of the African diaspora while highlighting the contributions of Black international and refugee communities within the District.

Feb. 11, 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
Lindblom Math and Science Academy, 6130 S. Wolcott Ave.
The engineers involved in the CTA Red Line Expansion Project will be visiting Lindblom to talk to a cohort of students about career pathways in engineering and about a summer paid internship opportunity.

Feb. 12, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
OMME Center, 3320 W. Evergreen Ave.
"Benefits of Multilingualism in African American Communities" panel discussion. The panel event will be focused on the District's expansion of multilingual opportunities for African American students. This session will highlight the benefits of linguistic diversity and advocate for increased access to these vital programs.

Feb. 17, 5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Wendell Phillips Academy High School, 244 E. Pershing Rd.
CPS will host "Chicago Black History of Phillips and DuSable High Schools," a community-based event highlighting the enduring impact of both schools in the Bronzeville neighborhood.

Feb. 25, 1 p.m.- 2 p.m.
Mildred I. Lavizzo Elementary School, 138 W. 109th St.
Lavizzo will host their 13th annual African American Bowl where 32 students - organized into eight teams of four students - representing each grade level will compete using trivia stemming from current events. The bowl will be streamed by the school's YouTube channel.

Feb. 26, 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Jordan Community School, 7414 N. Wolcott Ave.
Jordan is hosting a Black-owned business fair in partnership with the school community.

Feb. 27, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Mount Vernon Elementary School, 10540 S. Morgan St.
Mt. Vernon's "Heroes of the Harlem Renaissance" will highlight the legacy of the Harlem Renaissance with singing, dancing and acting. The production will be set in the present day where a grandfather reflects on his memories of the 1920s and shares stories with his grandchild of the heroes who shaped that transformative era.

For more information regarding District-wide events, visit the CPS website: https://www.cps.edu/.