Black History Month

February is "Black History Month," and we want to celebrate this month intentionally at GRCMS and throughout GRCS with our students.  Throughout our schools, we want to highlight the impact and accomplishments of African-Americans in our country and around the globe.

I had the opportunity this past fall to attend a conference in Washington, D.C., and the highlight of my time there was definitely the National Museum of African American History and Culture.  It took us two afternoons to take it all in, and I could have definitely spent more time there.  The Museum shares the history of African Americans and highlights the contributions in every area of American history and culture.  It is worth the trip to D.C. just to visit this Museum!

While we try to be intentional throughout the school year and at each grade level about highlighting the contributions and stories of African Americans, we believe it is important in this special month recognized by our country to be intentional about celebrating Black History Month with our students.  We will share about — and want students to have the opportunity to share about — the impacts that African Americans have had in our country and world.

I want to highlight one specific opportunity to learn more about our city of Grand Rapids during Black History Month.  There are walking tours planned during February on Saturday afternoons from 12:00 - 1:00 pm to learn more about the history of African Americans in Grand Rapids.  Here is some information from the tour website: 

"If we review the demographic changes over the less-than-200 years that Grand Rapids has been a city on the banks of the Grand River, the ethnic makeup of our population has shifted dramatically.  This walking tour specifically examines the African American population from 1826 until the present.  The remarkable people, places, events, issues… the legends and facts about what it meant to be black in Grand Rapids”

If you would like to join us on Saturday afternoon, February 15, at noon, you can join fellow GRCS parents and students to learn more about our city and the history of African-Americans in Grand Rapids. 

After the event, we will have an optional gathering time for fellowship at a restaurant or coffee shop downtown (exact location will be communicated via e-mail) from 1:00 — 2:00 pm. 

You can RSVP by filling out this form. (If you cannot make it on February 15, you can also sign up at grandrapidsrunningtours.com for the public walking tour on February 8 at noon.)  We hope you can join us!

—Eric