Table of Contents
When then-freshman Christie Clark approached Carson Sarpong about becoming a co-founder for her club, Black Student Union, he was hesitant.
Three years later, Sarpong is the president, and the club has organized the Black History Project, a contest that invites students to create art about Black history and culture.
The idea for the Black History Project came when the club’s secretary, Eric Gorman, emphasized the need to educate students to combat insensitive questions and comments.
The idea resonated with club members, including Sarpong, who recalled that when he moved to Winchester, his classmates initially asked him questions fueled by curiosity. But, as he got older, the questions became “more ignorant” and “intensive rather than curious.”
“Ninety percent of [the jokes and comments] probably come from ignorance,” Sarpong said. “Ten percent are actually either hate or supposed to be derogatory.”
BSU wants the competition’s focus to be on the African diaspora to highlight Black culture outside of the United States.
When brainstorming the contest, BSU members felt that most of their history education focused on either Eurocentric American or European history because of constraints on the curriculum. Other cultures’ histories are often overlooked.
Gorman hopes the project will act as a “stepping stone” toward a more balanced curriculum.
The club hopes the Black History Project will highlight the parts of Black history that go unnoticed in the curriculum.
“There’s a lot of good things that Black communities have done thus far, and we want to highlight that from our own standing, in our own voice,” said Joel Aryee, a senior on the BSU’s leadership team.
The contest accepts submissions ranging from visual art and literary works to multimedia pieces such as documentaries, websites and music.
So far, BSU has received four submissions. The club expects an additional 20 by the time submissions close Feb. 9. From then until Feb. 25, teachers will judge each piece, and a winner will be announced Feb. 25 at a community showcase at the Griffin Museum of Photography.
Winners will receive Amazon gift cards, with the first-place winner receiving $250. Second place will receive $150 and third place $100.
Contestants are encouraged to base their submissions on thoroughly researched concepts. Submissions will be judged on their concept, creativity, composition, use of medium and their clear connection to Black history and modern-day Black culture.
After the showcase, the projects will be displayed in both the Griffin Museum and the high school’s art department.
Joe Aryee, a member of BSU’s leadership team, said he hopes the submissions will allow people to “find their voice.”
Organizations in the community came together to help BSU with the competition. The Winchester Rotary Club provided the prize money, while the Network for Social Justice created the community showcase.
Craig Mackenzie, the club’s faculty adviser, has seen the project come to life.
“Seeing [Carson’s] work and the students he’s working with try and change [the school system] for the better has been the most enjoyable part for me,” Mackenzie said.
The club hopes the Black History Project will become an annual event and will connect students with BSU. Club members want to solidify BSU as a place where everyone is welcome.
As the due date for submissions inches closer, Sarpong and the rest of BSU are thrilled with how the competition has shaped up.
“To see it actually become something is really cool,” Sarpong said.
Tavishi Chattopadhyay is a journalism student at Boston University. This story is part of a partnership between Winchester News and the Boston University Department of Journalism.
