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Students learn about obscure figures to celebrate Black History Month at Cardinal Spellman HS

The Black Heritage Society Club at Cardinal Spellman High School is teaching students about people you might not find in a textbook.

Jodi-Juliana Powell

Feb 14, 2025, 10:57 PM

Updated 10 hr ago

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To celebrate Black History Month, students at Cardinal Spellman High School are teaching their peers about notable people throughout history that range from health care providers to the New Jersey secretary of state. The Black Heritage Society Club at Cardinal Spellman High School is teaching students about people you might not find in a textbook. “We're all taught about Ruby Bridges, Harriet Tubman, but we don't learn about the non popular people, like how the gas mask was invented by a Black man,” said Zaryah Crawford, co-president of the Black Heritage Society. The club put together bulletin boards around the school, highlighting Black history. They wanted their peers to look at the boards and learn about the faces they see. “We wanted people to be able to research and look at the individuals that we showcased…scan the QR Code, it's going to show the individuals on the board and their most notable acts and works, pieces,” said Naheem Howard, co-president of the Black Heritage Society. Along with the boards, each day a new person is spotlighted on all school computers for students to read about. “So many people I've never heard of before...There's so many people who've done all these things and you don't know. So as I'm teaching others, I'm also learning myself,” said Brie-Marie Osbourne, co-president of the Black Heritage Society. She says seeing these people each day encourages her to want to be like them. All of this leads up to the Black History Month Showcase at the end of the month for the student body. The show will feature steppers, dancers and poets to celebrate excellence in the arts.