Austinites Celebrate Black History Month by Educating Youth

By Andres Calixto

Reporting Texas TV

AUSTIN, Texas – Children painted, danced, and created artwork during the final event of the George Washington Carver Museum’s Black History Month program. 

The annual Black History Month Kids Day event took place Feb. 24 to educate young children on Black culture. More than 800 attendees including children, parents and grandparents celebrated Black history. 

Faith Weaver, the museum’s education coordinator said events like Kids Day matter for young people. 

“It’s important to build their esteem because we don’t always see positive things about Black people,” Weaver said.

Now in her 24th year at the museum, she said the museum’s goal is to always support communities of color.

“There’s a responsibility to tell stories and represent communities,” Weaver said.

Families laughed and smiled while making arts and crafts. 

Demetria Tennison said she brought her grandkids to the event to learn about their heritage.

“They can get some experience and see some of the artifacts, library, and museum. It shows a lot of history that they’ll never have to go through, and I’m grateful but they still have it preserved where they can learn about it,” Tennison said.

“The young people are the future. You’ll never get to understand a black person if you don’t know where they come from,” she said.

Outside the George Washington Carver Museum in Austin, Texas, on March 3, 2024. (Andrés Calixto/Reporting Texas TV)

Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 17 into law in June 2023, which prohibits public institutions of higher education from establishing or operating diversity, equity, and inclusion offices. The law now forced institutions such as the University of Texas at Austin to shut down their diversity and inclusion programs. 

Asha Austin said the legislation banning DEI programs serves as more reason to have events similar to Black History Month Kids Day.  

“We are amazing, we have been through so much, hard, difficult struggles and we still find joy in small things and big things. Being Black is something to be proud of and something to be celebrated,” Austin said.

The event ended with performances by Campbell Elementary Dance Teams: the Blue Dragon Cheer Squad, Blue Dragon Dancers, and Blue Dragon Step Squad.