By Maddie Sexton
Students dressed up as some of the most significant African Americans in history for a living “wax museum” at the Jonesboro Leadership Magnet School.
Sixth graders took the hardwood standing tall and strong as some of history’s most influential African Americans including music industry legends, world-class athletes, and civil rights leaders on Monday, Feb. 24.
Students conducted their own research on their chosen person of interest. Social Studies teacher Latoya Davis said it is important for today’s generation to know how they got here.
“To understand that there were people before you who may not have had as many opportunities as you, but they believed in something and made it happen,” Davis said.
Following a joyful performance of “Stand By Me”, students walked around the wax museum and learned lessons from the wax figures themselves.
“Ruby Bridges was known as the first African American child to desegregate the William Frantz Elementary School, and she is the reason we go to school with different colors of kids every day,” said sixth-grader Trenity Tyler.
It is the echoes of our ancestors that ignite the hearts of today’s youth with boundless inspiration. For sixth grader Johnathan Alexander, it is soulful singer-songwriter Ray Charles.
“When I grow up I want to be a singer, so I picked him,” Alexander said. “And he really inspired me to go and actually pursue my dream.”
This marks the second year of the Black History Wax Museum at the elementary school.
Davis said they hope the tradition continues for years to come.
“I hope that the takeaway for the kids today is just to be who you are, be who you want to be, and go for it no matter the obstacles you have to face,” Davis said.