Students at School No. 2 marked Black History Month with a pair of lively, educational assemblies presented by the Bright Star Touring Theatre Company, bringing history to life through performance.
The touring company visited the school to present two programs highlighting the achievements and legacy of influential Black Americans, with content tailored to different grade levels.
Upper elementary students in grades 4 through 6 attended a performance titled “Empowered, Brilliant & Brave: Great Women of Black History.” Through dramatic storytelling and audience engagement, two performers portrayed a range of groundbreaking women whose contributions shaped American history.
Students learned about Dorothy Vaughan, a pioneering mathematician and “human computer” at NASA; abolitionist Sojourner Truth; and Underground Railroad leader Harriet Tubman. The program also spotlighted entrepreneur Madam C. J. Walker, recognized as the first American woman to become a self-made millionaire, and astronaut Mae Jemison, the first Black woman to travel to space.
Civil rights icon Rosa Parks and former first lady Michelle Obama were featured alongside tennis champion Serena Williams, acclaimed poet and author Maya Angelou, and jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald. Each portrayal emphasized perseverance, courage and the power of education.
Younger students in grades 1 through 3 attended a separate performance, “Black History Hall of Fame,” a fast-paced and interactive journey through key moments and figures in Black history. While it included several of the same notable women highlighted in the upper-grade assembly, the presentation was adapted to be age-appropriate and accessible for younger audiences. Audience volunteers were invited on stage, adding to the excitement and helping reinforce lessons through hands-on participation.
School officials said the assemblies aimed to both educate and inspire, using theater as a dynamic tool to engage students with important historical narratives.
The programs were funded through School No. 2’s Arts in Education PTA committee, which works to bring cultural and educational experiences to students throughout the year. By combining live performance with history, the school’s Black History Month celebration offered students an engaging look at the individuals whose resilience and achievements continue to influence generations.
