Wheeler High School celebrates Black History Month every day for the whole month. Each day, we learn about an important African American throughout the years. A few weeks ago, we had a big Martin Luther King assembly to celebrate him and all the African Americans who helped build this country. Also, to celebrate the month, the teachers were tasked to decorate their doors to support the school. Here in journalism Class, we thought long and hard about what we would do to decorate, and we decided to do a strong African American woman. Each woman up there has an interesting story behind them.
One of the women on the door is Alice Walker; She was an outstanding female figure to receive recognition on our door. Throughout her career, she established herself as a distinguished American novelist, short story writer, poet, and social activist who gained fame for her exceptional work The Color Purple. Throughout her upbringing in impoverished conditions in Georgia, she faced the harsh realities of systemic racism and sexism that dominated the Southern United States during the 1950s and 1960s. The year 1968 saw the publication of Walker’s debut poetry anthology, “Once.” The body of her initial literary works, consisting of poetry and short stories, emerged under the profound influence of civil rights and feminist movements, together with her encounters regarding race and gender. Alice Walker’s The Color Purple (1982) stands as her most renowned literary achievement, delivering a powerful narrative that explores the experiences of African American women during the early twentieth century. The story chronicles Celie’s life as she emerges victorious over physical and emotional abuse to find her voice and inner strength. Mackenzie Morries (12) said that Alice Walker is her inspiration. “She made us understand the struggles of being black in the day, and more people need to understand that too.”
Next up is Nikki Giovanni, a renowned African American poet, writer, and activist who has made a significant impact on American literature and the civil rights movement. She was raised in the Civil Rights Movement era, which later influenced much of her writing. She attended Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, a historically Black university, where she became deeply involved in the cultural and political movements of the time. She earned a degree in history from Fisk University in 1967, where she was also an active participant in the student movement for civil rights. Giovanni’s career was not limited to just poetry. She has also been an advocate for civil rights, gender equality, and social justice. She was a vocal supporter of the Black Panther Party and the broader Black Power Movement, which sought to elevate Black voices and challenge systemic racism. Her involvement in the civil rights movement and her outspoken stance against racism and injustice set her apart as one of the prominent voices of her generation. In addition to her activism, Giovanni was also a professor of English at Virginia Tech, where she was a beloved educator and continued to inspire young students with her passion for poetry and activism. Makalah Johnson (12) mentioned that Nikki is her idol because “She is a great writer and great poet, and she has a lot of great books, and she is an inspiration to all kind of woman.”
Also on our door is Lorraine Hansberry. She was an important African American woman, playwright, and author, most known for her wonderful play A Raisin in the Sun, which explores racial issues, economic hardship, and aspirations in mid-20th-century America. Her father, Carl Hansberry, was a successful real estate businessman who fought a landmark legal battle in the 1940s against racially restrictive housing covenants. This fight for racial equality and housing rights significantly influenced Lorraine’s worldview and, later, her writing. Hansberry attended the University of Wisconsin, initially studying painting before transferring to the University of Chicago, where she became involved in activism and the arts. Hansberry moved to New York in 1950, where she continued to develop her writing and activism. Her career took off when A Raisin in the Sun debuted on Broadway in 1959, becoming the first play by a Black woman to be staged on Broadway. The play focuses on the Younger family, an African American family in Chicago, as they struggle with poverty, identity, and racism after receiving an insurance check following the death of the family patriarch. The play teaches themes of dreams, racial discrimination, generational divides, and the harsh realities faced by African Americans striving for upward mobility. The success of A Raisin in the Sun made Hansberry a prominent figure in American theater. The play was later turned into a movie in 1961, making this book watched by millions. Aeirss Brown (12) said her inspiration is Lorraine: “She is my favorite because she is a part of the theater like me, and she is a great author.”
Finally, there is Zora Neale Hurston. She was a celebrated African American novelist, short story writer, anthropologist, and folklorist, best known for her novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, and for her contributions to the Harlem Renaissance. Her work often centered on the African American experience, folklore, culture, and the lives of Black women in the South. In the 1920s, Hurston moved to New York City and became a key figure in the Harlem Renaissance, a cultural and artistic movement that celebrated Black culture and identity. She was part of a dynamic group of writers, artists, and intellectuals, including Langston Hughes, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Countee Cullen. Hurston’s unique perspective as a Black woman from the South gave her a distinct voice in this community. Hurston’s life was marked by both success and hardship. Although she was highly respected for her work during the Harlem Renaissance, she faced financial difficulties, and by the 1940s, she struggled with recognition and was often marginalized by the literary establishment. Her controversial views and occasional disputes with other writers, such as Langston Hughes and Richard Wright, also led to tensions within the Black literary community.
