The Chandler Unified School District Governing Board’s Feb. 12 regular meeting included a Black History Month presentation, hosted by Hamilton High School senior Alex Brown.

Brown said he plans to attend Howard University in the fall and then attend law school.

“It is imperative to remember the impact Black people have made on this country,” Brown said as he introduced the rest of the student presenters. “These people have impacted my life and have paved the way for the man I hope to become.”

After singing along to the music of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” on their way into the board room, students from all five Chandler high schools, about 25 students each spoke about a brief element of history or important people. They highlighted parts of the story of Black labor in the U.S. from 1619 to the present, inspired by the New York Times’ 1619 Project.

People associated with Black excellence mentioned by at least one student included themselves, historical figures and/or with their own family or school faculty members. One mentioned Dr. Craig Gilbert, one of Chandler Unified’s associate superintendents, as an example of achievement and Black excellence.

Mentioned in the chronology of Black labor were historical figures Dr. Martin Luther Ling, President Lincoln, Harriett Tubman, A. Phillip Randolph, Ruby Bridges, the Little Rock Nine, Barack Obama, Kamala Harris, John Lewis, Robert F. Smith, Oprah Winfrey, Beyoncé and Denzel Washington as examples of Black excellence.

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