Organizers of the Black Lives Matter at School Day held Friday for the Rochester City School District say the event was created to reflect on the past, present and future of the civil rights movement and black lives in our country, and to encourage conversation about social justice and sustainable progress.
Rakia Hardaway is a social studies teacher at Edison Career and Technology High School, she said it’s important to have these events in schools to show that youth participation is essential.
"The civil rights movement, everyone tends to think of as just being adults, Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks. But the movement didn’t get much notice until you had kids who stepped in and started protesting and getting arrested, writing the signs. So I think it’s exciting to see now we have a younger movement, younger kids are getting involved."
Tyiasha Jackson is a junior at Edison Tech, she said she was proud to see her school celebrate the Black Lives Matter movement and include student opinions.
"Children or even teens like us know that something isn’t right. So I think that the district chose today to address us and hear us out and let us know they’re listening."
She said the day shows that students can share their opinions in a proactive way.
"I think it shows that we can address our opinion but in a positive way and talk about it with our teachers, because a lot of teachers are very supportive of today, celebrating us, addressing us, asking our opinion."
Events at Edison Career and Technology High School included jazz performances by students, documentary screenings and discussions and a mock Black Lives Matter protest during lunch.