LDSB students celebrate Black History Month through artwork – Kingston

A wall of black history and remembrance is what greets those entering the Loyalty College and Vocational Institute (LCVI) this month.

Weeks of work and planning turned into a work of art by 12th grader Tanesha Duncan-Zulu, all in honor of Black History Month.

“I really want Black people to feel represented in Limestone,” said Duncan-Zulu. “And also just to plant a seed so that others can follow what I’m doing next year and the years after.”

LCVI students are also urban student trustees of the Limestone School Board (LDSB).

She brought the idea of ​​the wall’s valuable Black history and a collage of artwork to her school’s administration.

“It’s a beautiful, powerful piece of work that celebrates Black excellence, black culture, the black body, and it’s amazing,” said LCVI Principal Margaret Connelly.

“We are so grateful to Tanesha for her leadership with this, it is just a wonderful, wonderful piece of work that we can showcase in the foyer for all of our students to see.”

Duncan-Zulu said the feedback she gets from her work is just what she expected.

“I get nothing but positive vibes from everyone. I’ve had teachers come in and say “oh my gosh, that looks so good.”

According to the LDSB’s 2020 student census, approximately 4% of Limestone students identify as Black, compared with 86% identifying as white.

“Especially living in a predominantly white area, it’s very hard to fight with your identity,” says Duncan-Zulu.

“And when you see, you know, schools and administrators take care of our students and say, ‘Hey, we see you,’ especially with the natural (art) part of the hair. .. I really want to make sure they are comfortable in their own skin and feel honored in their own skin. “

Duncan-Zulu hopes that seeing her artwork on display will encourage other LDSBs to follow suit and become more active in Black History Month.

For now, her tribute will remain in the LCVI as a reminder that representation is important.