Black History Month at Edison has taken on a new form this year, as the Black Student Union’s spirit week shifts the celebration from classroom discussions to a more immersive and student-led experience. 

This year, Black Student Union leads a more interactive approach by organizing fun and engaging spirit week ideas such as Melanin Monday or BlackWall Street Wednesday. Each event was intentionally planned to blend important historical facts with school spirit. Through themed days and schoolwide participation, BSU aimed to create a celebration that felt both engaging and inclusive for students of all backgrounds. 

“I think that over the years, as time goes on, we find more creative and different ways to engage not only the students but the staff members as well,” Said Jamel Foster, the advisor of the Black Student Union.

Beyond spirit week, the BSU board members came up with a multitude of ways to celebrate. Each classroom door features a fact about role models within the black community who have made a lasting impact on society, reflecting on a different point in history to immerse the students and faculty. During morning announcements, student leaders select songs that reflect their identities and share fun facts with the school community, allowing students to connect personal expression with education.

BSU’s spirit week is specifically popular among students because it brings in students from different backgrounds to join in on the fun. From February 2nd to February 6th, students celebrated Melanin Monday, B.E.T Tuesday, BlackWall Street Wednesday, Throwback Thursday, and Rich Auntie and BBQ Dad Friday. Throughout the week, students enjoyed dressing up with their peers in creative ways, building excitement and racking up schoolwide participation.

While the themed outfits brought energy to the hallways, students say the impact of Spirit Week goes far beyond just the dressing up part.  “BSU is not only a club, its unification of brothers and sisters,” said Jordan Brown, BSU treasurer. He talked about the importance of visibility in creating Black history. “…being able to be seen by other people is a great thing,” he continued.

For BSU president Aaron White, helping organize events carries special meaning for younger students. “The incoming freshmen, even sophomores, they struggle finding friends,” White said. “It means bringing a lot of people together.”

Senior Denzari Samuels described the week as an opportunity for cultural expression. “I feel like it’s a great opportunity to not only express yourself in many ways but also express the culture,” he said. 

Others believe that student-led celebrations make the celebration even more impactful. “When events are student-led, you feel a little more connected,” Rozina Mowree, a senior at Edison, claimed. “A student knows best on how to arrange an event to the standards and liking of other students whereas staff might not know because of generational differences.”

Another highly anticipated event, which is coincidentally student-led as well, is the Renaissance Showcase, which highlights the diverse artistic backgrounds of black students. This event continues to grow each year as more students volunteer to show off their artistic skills while promoting community and culture to the Edison student body. “We have performances ranging from singing, dancing, step, musical acts, skit, acting, drama, and instruments, so there’s a lot more now than when we started,” Foster said. “It keeps transforming into something better.”

As Black History Month continues, BSU’s efforts reflect a growing commitment to including everyone and representing their culture confidently at Edison. What was once limited to only classroom lessons has evolved into a celebration that fills the hallways, bringing students together and strengthening a sense of unity throughout the school.