Emerson Davis paid a visit to the William S. Hart Union High School District’s office on Wednesday and was met with multicolored canvases that highlighted prominent Black figures in history.
As she took in the creative minds of local students, including some of her peers, she felt empowered and seen when she came across two art pieces titled “Curls and Coils” by local student Ari Johnson and another titled “Hair” by student Melody Crockerham.
For the Castaic High School junior, seeing textured hair highlighted in a positive light, was something that made her change her perspective about her own.
“I’ve always struggled with my hair, liking it in certain styles, being able to embrace it. It’s been kind of tough because I’m around people with straight hair, people with hair who can do things like dye it,” Davis said, as she passed her fingers through her braids.
But seeing students focus their art projects on hair similar to hers, “made me feel less ashamed of it because it’s something to be proud of, instead of something that I should be insecure about.”
Not only was Davis reassured to be proud of her hair, but she also witnessed the trailblazers in Black history who paved the way for students like herself.
Davis along with dozens of community members including Hart district officials were able to witness depictions of Martin Luther King Jr., Major League Baseball star Jackie Robinson, and civil rights activist Rosa Parks, among many other individuals, during the district’s annual Black History Month Art Show.
“This is our community; this is my community,” Davis said as she looked around and took in the sight of the canvases.
The art show showcased dozens of art submissions from students at local junior high and high schools, including video projects and even a spoken word. This year’s theme was “A Century of Black History Commemorations,” which celebrated individuals across history until the present day.
For Cherise Moore, Hart district governing board member, Davis’ reflection is why the art show exists.
“I’m a huge advocate for the arts. Education is about developing the whole person. For some students it can’t just be writing, reading and arithmetic. For some it’s athletics, for some it’s art … if you don’t give them the opportunity to find out what that is, you’re going to lose them,” Moore said.
Moore wants students of all backgrounds, including young Black boys and girls, to never “stop dreaming about the possibilities. This world has so many things for them. I don’t want them to just keep dreaming about it, but to reach out there, grab those dreams and make them a reality,” she said.
“I don’t want them to be sad about anything, or to think that there is anything that can stand in their way of getting to their goal or dream,” Moore added. “I want them to know they have cheerleaders; they have people who are supporting and championing them.”
Academy of the Canyons student Josh Justin took a few days to complete his piece titled “Broken Chains” and at some point was discouraged to submit his piece but noted that if so many Black figures “died for a cause, because they wanted equity, if they can do that. I can do a simple drawing,” he said.
“Black History Month, most people think about the big faces. Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Malcom X. They’re amazing people, but I also wanted to focus on people who were lost in time,” Justin said, adding that seeing his work up on display was something he was proud of.
Castaic High student artist Agampreet Kaur’s piece titled “Fireborn” depicted an African American woman holding a flame on her bare hand “showing how tough she is carrying the resilience of her ancestors,” she stated in her brief description of the piece.
The piece also had the words fierce, strong, brave, bold, and many others, which was a representation of the African-American identity, the description said.
She participated in the art show because she has friends and others around her who she wanted to celebrate, she said, because “they’re amazing.”
“I love opportunities for the students to be able to express that talent, that creativity. It’s important to be able to think, that’s one of the things that we try to encourage with school so when you create an opportunity where students get a chance to be creative, they think in a way that is authentic because it comes from the inside,” said Erin Wilson, Hart district governing board clerk.
“Art is powerful. When you don’t have the words to say, your art will speak it for you. If you’re an artist, it’s just a part of you and it’s going to come out. It’s like a singer can’t help singing. That’s just who we are,” said Gloria Locke, a local artist. She has attended the art show every year to celebrate student talent.
Locke was also recognized during the art show with a One Hart award, given to her by Moore, for her local advocacy and published book “First & Famous Black Trailblazers of Santa Clarita,” which has hand-drawn portraits of local Black figures including Louis Brathwaite, a leader in the formation of the city of Santa Clarita, as well as Moore herself.
“It’s amazing to see that young people have this talent, and what’s more amazing is when you read their cards. The impact that they felt caused them to draw, or paint, or sketch,” community activist Valerie Bradford said. “They are aware, they are educated, they are impacted by Black history.”
“It’s imperative, from generation to generation, that they learn their Black history, that they know they are able to express it. Our history is constantly being attacked, whitewashed, erased, so this is very important,” Bradford added.
As community members took their time looking through every brush stroke and sketch, Moore hopes students continue to celebrate Black history beyond the 28 days of February.
“African Americans contribute to American history every day of the year, not just the 28 days in February,” she said. “To see students contribute to this art show, who are from diverse backgrounds, to me, means they get that.”
