Thomas Jefferson

High School | Home of the Spartans

Dignifying February

Posted 02/07/2011 by Anna Becker

TJ’s Black Student Alliance implements plans and activities to celebrate the country’s Black History Month.

Photo by Danny Showers

American leader Martin Luther King, Abolitionist Frederick Douglass, activist Malcolm X, and writer Zora Neale Hurston are just a few individuals who are celebrated and remembered throughout black history month in February. TJ’s Black Student Alliance (BSA) has prepared a collection of projects to help promote the remembrance of these African American leaders.

On January 18th, BSA kicked off the festivities by participating in the MLK Marade (march and parade) in downtown Denver’s City Park. “The Marade was a really great opportunity for us to link with DU’s BSA. It was really awesome to see everyone stick it out through the entire event and make it to the finish line,” said senior member Suprina Williams. The Marade is held annually in Denver to commemorate the great efforts of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

This month BSA plans on playing a video every Friday that spotlights an African American leader. “Whether they were well known for their efforts or not, we want to educate everyone on the great things these leaders accomplished,” said Bryaunna Rice, who is the President of BSA. The club will also be airing a “This day in history” fact on the Spartan Edition throughout the entire month.

The club is also working on expanding out into the community and would like to join efforts with other BSA organizations. “We have been working with DU’s BSA and would like to eventually plan an event for all DPS BSA members to attend,” said Rice. The group would like to organize workshops that would allow everyone to be involved in the club’s activities.

Along with their expansion out into the community, BSA would like to invite anyone at TJ to join the club. “Black Student Alliance can be a misleading name for the club. We would like anyone of any ethnicity to join the club,” said Danny Showers, who is the club sponsor. BSA meets every Friday at lunch in room 105. Anyone interested in joining can stop by room 105 to speak with Mr. Showers.