Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Through Education and Reflection

The Middle School recently welcomed April Armstrong, an award-winning storyteller and former Masters middle school music teacher, for a special performance about the Civil Rights Movement. Armstrong wove together spoken word, movement and music, beginning with the South African anti-apartheid song, “Siyahamba.” She then shared stories about Ruby Bridges’ experience as the first African American child to attend an all-white school and the Freedom Riders, the civil rights activists who rode interstate buses to challenge segregation in public transportation and public spaces.

 

“Accompanied by music, Ms. Armstrong’s voice and captivating one-woman performance highlighted the power of storytelling in understanding history,” said Mitsuki Nishimoto, middle school English teacher and co-advisor for the Middle School DEI Club. “The way she embodied different figures and wove together various stories showcased the interconnectedness of struggles for justice, which was an important element of Dr. King’s philosophy as well.”

 

This week, middle school students are set to share reflections and poetry inspired by Dr. King during a middle school community showcase.

The MLK Day commemoration continues with an upper school celebration on Wednesday, February 4, aligning with the start of Black History Month. The day will feature class discussions, a screening of “Martin Luther King, Jr.: From Montgomery to Memphis,” a performance by baritone saxophonist Jason Marshall, and a film on the Folded Map Project. This 2018 multimedia project created by social justice artist Tonika Lewis Johnson invites viewers to visualize how segregation is experienced in Chicago by connecting residents who live at corresponding addresses on the North and South Sides of the city.

Associate Head of School for Inclusive Excellence Selas Douglas reflected, “The Civil Rights Era feels more distant to our students than for most of our adult community members. We’re hoping to spend the day engaging with the context of the era while also considering contemporary efforts to address similar challenges. 

 

“John Marshall’s performance will bring to life some of the moments we explore in the Montgomery to Memphis film, and Tonika Lewis Johnson’s work with the Folded Map Project will provide an opportunity to engage with an artist who is using her work to be a power for good in the world around her.”