A Counter-Narrative on Black Male Students: At Central High School’s Black History Month Celebration, the Central and Centennial High School African-American Clubs released a joint video countering the negative images of young African-American males in the media. The students affirmed the following in a video highlighting the successes of young black males within the District:
• We are not gangsters and thugs.
• We are employees and volunteers.
• We are scholars.
• We are athletes.
“The negative stories told daily in the media and in our culture about our young African-American men tend to ignore their successes and don’t tell the full story about how young Black men are becoming leaders within our community schools,” said Central School Social Worker and African-American Club Sponsors Tiffany Gholson and Barbara Cook, who worked with the students on this effort. “In this video, our students reclaim the narrative of who they are and inspire other students to follow in their footsteps.” In our assembly, we addressed the State of the Youth and highlighted what Black students have overcome from a historical perspective. The assembly also highlighted how overcoming those obstacles has helped make America stronger and urged students of all backgrounds to carry the torch for future generations.
*Video Production by Sam Ambler of Ambler Video
amblersam.wordpress.com
ambler.sam@gmail.com
*Champaign Central High School & Centennial High School African-American Clubs
*Inspired by the men of Alpha Phi Alpha–Tau Chapter
*Music “Suit & Tie” by Justin Timberlake
Suit and Tie in the 217
Category
Beautiful! Young men telling their #TRUTH!
Thank you for the positive comments to our video! Michael Eric Dyson summed
up the purpose the best. Often our Black males face the stigma and
pathology that is attached to that term “Black male” but it doesn’t address
the grit, valor, and courage of their struggle to represent that term as
well. These boys and their journeys are not perfect but they well represent
what it is like to be a Black male today. We have, of course, had critics
and to them I say–if you do not feel like there is a war on Black males
and if you feel that it is solely the Black males’ plight and all of the
responsibility of fixing the ills of society rest on them, we have so much
more work to do. Thank you supporters!!
This is awesome! They look so handosme! I am most def copying this! If I
have boys they are going to school like this :)
I love this!
I could never understand how the Black culture allowed an inferior looking
and acting behavior to become an accepted image for our community. Thank
God, these young men see the detriment of it and decided too change…These
young men look great! I hope they start a wave across the nation that
suddenly changes our whole culture and community.
lookin sharp!!! no matter what your skin color is, if you want to be
respected, you have to dress like it! Way to go! Also, don’t name your kids
something wild and crazy like yeshondraquizz. People will never take
someone like that seriously. I’m sure that some will take the last part the
wrong way, but it’s the truth. give your child a good name, and dress to
impress! great video!
Yes Black men, those who interact and understand you, know you’re not
dangerous criminal “thugs”. But respectability will not obfuscate the hate
and dehumanization you endure. MLK preached nonviolence and wore a suit and
he was beaten and killed. Obama is educated, married, accomplished and
still encounters racist hate. Build your community, respect your brother
and sister and be unapologetically Black. Know and destroy enemy; don’t
lose your independence by playing according to his rules and limitations.
OMG why cant the guys in my school do this
Well done young men. Well done.
They all look so handsome. I love it.
Amazing!!! Get it —->BEAUTIFUL STRONG BLACK YOUNG MEN!!! So proud of
you!!
Defying the odds. Take your rightful places in this world, young Bruthas!!!
No excuses. I love it!!!
Yes! Well done guys
congrats to all of them. my prayer is that they make college even more
successful and continue to conquer the world with the attitude that they
are different and special and worth much!
Well done, young brothers, well done. Thank you for defying the odds and
making a bold truthful statement. Keep up the good work.
I salute the young fellas…tell your story in your voice…#suit&tie
Make me proud young brothers.
A kind of refreshing…good luck
Love it! Keep doing it BIG young brothers!
Before you judge ALL of our young men, take a look at this!