The Multicultural Achievement Committee (MAC) Scholars hosted this year’s Black History Month assembly on the afternoon of Friday, Feb. 19.

This hour-long assembly focused on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Senior Dassan Rhodes and junior Katelyn Howell organized this event with the help of their adviser Kevin Houchins.

“We’re trying to get students here more aware of opportunities that many people didn’t know about,” Rhodes said.

The assembly began with an impressive performance from Shaw High School’s band. The East Cleveland band blew the crowd away with an impressive, HBCU-style performance featuring spirited drums and dancing.

“They started to play, and you could hear the excitement around the gym,” junior Swathi Srinivasan said. “They were really talented and coordinated, so to see the band play so cohesively was pretty awesome.”

Next, Channel 5 meteorologist Janessa Webb spoke about her experience attending an HBCU. Webb attended Winston Salem State in North Carolina. She spoke about the benefits of attending an HBCU. She told the audience that HBCUs are for everyone, regardless of race.

Next, the MAC scholars listed some well-known HBCUs and gave the audience some background information on schools such as Cheyney University, Spelman College and Morehouse College.

Howell feels it is important for students to know that HBCUs exist for a number of reasons.

“HBCUs are not only affordable, but they offer tons of scholarships and are focused on unity, [rather] than competition, which is what many might find at PWIs [predominantly white institutions],” she said. “What many students tend to find when attending an HBCU is that not only do they find life long friends, but mentors as well.”

To close the program, Kappa Alpha Psi brothers from Cleveland State University and Lake Erie College asked the students for questions and performed a step dance.

According to junior Nia Darby, a member of the MAC scholars, the group shied away from the traditional Black History Month focus on major historical figures.

Darby feels that our school’s curriculum should do more to highlight the contributions of African Americans in history, including those who are not usually celebrated.

She also feels that the district should hire more black faculty.

“I feel like they should hire more African American teachers,” she said, “…especially since the rate of African American kids are growing at this school.”

Census and other data supports this claim.

In a Dec. 2014 article, The Beachcomber reported that the African American population living in the City of Beachwood increased from 9% in 2000 to 14% in 2010.

According to the same article, as of the 2014-2015 school year, Beachwood City Schools had an African-American enrollment of 20%.

“Living in this country, especially in education, you hear a lot about white history,” Howell said.

Howell emphasized the importance of celebrating Black History Month.

“It’s really important for people to know their history, to learn about their culture and to know where they come from,” she said. “If you don’t know who you are and where you come from, I believe that you don’t really know where you’re going.”