Brooklyn Students Honor Black History With Songs Of Struggle And Triumph

BROOKLYN, NY— Neomi Peterson, a fourth-grader at P.S. 21 Crispus Attucks Elementary School, memorized four paragraphs about songs that carried Black communities from generation to generation, and in the process, learned about history she "knew nothing about."

“When I watched this show last year, I was inspired to join it, because I can show my skills and learn about Black history,” Neomi said.

She was one of dozens of third- through fifth-graders performing in “The Living Library,” a student-led Black History Month production created in partnership with Global Kids and Arts in Blue. Over 10 weeks, students researched influential Black figures, memorized monologues, rehearsed choreography, and practiced a cappella harmonies.

The auditorium fell silent as students performed, including Skylar, a fourth-grader who played gospel music on the piano by ear.

“She started picking it up by ear,” said Angela Moses, the school’s community director. “When she was in kindergarten, her mother bought her a keyboard.”

Other students recited all four stanzas of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” from memory. Between songs, they explained the hymn’s origins and its author’s significance. Scenes blended spoken word and movement to teach the audience about lesser-known figures in Black history.

“There’s a lot of history,” Moses said. “In every segment of the show, they are teaching the audience about who certain people were and what they did.”

The performance also highlighted students whose talents often go unseen. After last year’s show, a teacher approached Moses in tears, revealing that roughly 80% of the cast were special education students.

“All I know is I said, ‘Anybody want to audition?’” Moses said. “If that teacher didn’t tell me, I wouldn’t have known.”

Founder Lakai Worrell of Arts in Blue structured the production to uncover hidden talent and engage students in African American and African history.

“He brings out talent, and he discovers talent that no one knew was there,” Moses said.

Global Kids coordinated the residency and related programming at the school, including attendance initiatives and parent leadership workshops. Moses said the arts program offered students a reason to come to school and helped them grow academically and socially.

“They need a reason to learn,” she said. “If I can learn this, I can learn math, science, social studies.

As the final song ended and families rose to their feet, students stood in a line across the stage, bowing together, many experiencing a first-time stage performance that marked a milestone in confidence and creativity.

“This is my first time acting,” Neomi said. “It just helps me become more of who I am.”