Black Pride Day 2010 Celebration 3/3/2010

Written by Danette Sokacich
Celebrating its 2nd Annual Black Pride Day, PACHS students participated in a series of workshops that focused on a variety topics found in the African Diaspora.

Integrating the ideas of apartheid, segregation, and sportsmanship, instructors Raymond Rodriguez, Gustavo Colon, and Juan Rodriguez addressed the social, economical, and racial issues effecting communities in South Africa and Humboldt Park; and how through sports we can find a common bond to break the chains of colonialism.

Offering a syncopated introduction to African Percussion, mentors Ruben Gerena and Eric Lopez, directed students in chorus of maracas, barriles, calabashes, claves, and congas. The students learned rhythms rooted in the African Diaspora and its reaches in Puerto Rico and other communities in the Western Hemisphere.

Urban poetic waxing intellectuals composed lyrical artistry in the Hip Hop Poetry workshop, facilitated by Janeida Rivera and student, Dainah Malave. Using current Hip Hop and “Old School”, Janeida and Dainah bridged the connection between our lived musical life and structures of similes, metaphors, and bars.

Deepening the understanding of political awareness in Black History, students were open to discussions about the Black Panthers Movement and its desperate demise using intimidation, police brutality, and torture. Students viewed Legacy of Torture with Social Studies instructor, Carlos Quiles; and, compared the human rights abuses to those suffered by Puerto Rican political prisoners.

Other workshops included a comparative discussion and presentation of urban Chicago Juking and West Africa Dance, artistic creations of Adinkra symbols, peanut butter creations and exploring the work of George Washington Carver, and representations of African Americans in the Black Press and mainstream media.

Black Pride Day 2009

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