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Sixth Graders Recreate Famous Photos to Honor Black Leaders
Sixth graders in Milwaukee recreated awesome iconic photos to celebrate Black History Month! These students paid homage to influential Black figures by recreating famous photos of icons who have impacted the nation in a unique way.
One little girl has recreated former First Lady Michelle Obama‘s Becoming book cover, while a young boy struck a pose as activist Malcolm X.
“I think its extremely important for students to know and embrace their culture,” says Terrance Sims Jr., sixth grade teacher. “It is who we are, and when we know who we are we can flourish around others different from us. Learning to love ourselves builds self esteem and allows us to be successful and happy people,” he continued.
Sims has made it an annual tradition for his students to honor Black History Month with a project, he shared. This specific project is called “Representation is Key.”
He also explained, “the students are the brains behind the operation.” The idea came to life because of a book club the sixth grade class started where each wanted to recreate covers of the books they were reading.
“Black history has always been important to me, but as an educator, it is a crucial part of my job,” Sims shares. “While February is an exciting time for Black history, I teach my students daily to love their skin and know their personal history.”
Other images include Assata Shakur’s autobiography, Notorious B.I.G., and Sharon G. Flake’s The Skin I’m In.
These photos immediately captured the hearts of social media users around the world. While they did not expect these images to gain this much attention, the students are pleased with the outcome and impact they are having.
“We’ve loved every minute of it,” Sims told People. “It’s so exciting to see people appreciating the work that happens in our classroom. The students are excited to work harder and that pushes them to learn more!”