February marks Black History Month in both the United States and Canada (however it is celebrated in October in the Netherlands, Ireland, and the UK). To honor the contributions made by the Black community to this country and the world, the Pascack Hills BSU (Black Student Union) decorated the school walls with informational posters.

The Contributions of a Community

Black History Month, annually observed in February in the US, celebrates the achievements and contributions of African Americans and people of African descent. Themes highlighted during the month to honor the community include civil rights, innovation, the arts, resilience, culture, and more. 

The month serves as a focused time to acknowledge the central role individuals of African descent have had on the community and in shaping history. It strives to relay stories that were historically overlooked, while sharing joy and awareness to current contributions.

A sample of individuals celebrated by the BSU:

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Famously known for his “I have a dream speech” and his peaceful leadership during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, Martin Luther King Jr. is regarded as one of the primary figures in the movement.

While fighting for equality, some of King’s main contributions included advocating for the The Civil Rights Act of 1964, The Voting Rights Act of 1965, The Fair Housing Act of 1968, various economic boycotts, redefining the American dream, and expanding the definition of civil rights.

Simone Biles

Simone Biles is a gymnastics olympic gold medalist widely regarded as one of the top athletes in the sport in modern history. She currently holds a world record of 41 Olympic and World Championship medals. 

In the spotlight, Biles has advocated for athlete mental health awareness as well as voiced her concerns for systematic accountability of young athletes. As a survivor of sexual abuse by former olympic team doctor Larry Nassar, she advocates for the protection of young athletes by larger organizations.

Jesse Owens

At the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Jesse Owens became the very first American to win four consecutive gold medals in an olympiad; he medaled in the 100m, 200m, long jump, and 4x100m relay. His record in one of his main events, the long jump, was held at 26 feet 8 ¼ for 25 years.

In the height of Adolf Hitler’s ideals on “aryn race supremacy,” Owens challenged the Nazi party on their own ground, dominating the world stage of the Olympics as a black man at the heart of Nazi ideology and propaganda.

BSU Club Highlight

The Black Student Union is currently led by a team of student leaders, including junior Isabelle “Izzy” Mednard. Mednard is inspired by her experiences in Montvale public schools to raise awareness about issues and foster community at Hills.

The BSU is all about creating a safe space for everyone to feel included and having a place for students to feel comfortable around familiar faces. It’s also about educating others that Black history is American history, and it is important to learn about. The organization itself prides itself on its collaborations with other clubs and speakers. To commemorate Black History Month, members of the BSU partnered with the History Club to put up these posters of various influential Black figures around school.

“[The partnership] was about getting out of our comfort zone,” Mednard commented, “But it’s really just taking initiative and making these events to raise awareness and to make our club get out there.”

Looking ahead, Mednard also shared that there are many more speaker events, field trips, and volunteer events planned in the upcoming months. The club meets every other Monday during lunch typically in the library.