Black History Live Museum student organizers Tazariana Davis and J’Lan Stewart.

Imagine a concert with the greatest musicians of African American heritage all in one place at the same time. Pop singer Beyoncé with Aretha Franklin. Rap artist Ice Cube with crooner Ne-Yo and more. Visitors to Kokomo High School on Feb. 22 were able to meet, and in some cases listen, to these artists perform as KHS presented its 6th annual Black History Month Live Museum.

Organized by faculty sponsors Jennifer Luckey, Autumn Johnson, and Cherresa Lawson, and student organizers J’Lan Stewart and Tazariana Davis, the lunchtime presentation featured more than 20 KHS students portraying famous Black musical artists in the foyer of the KHS South Campus.

The Black History Month Live Museum began in 2018 when KHS Mathematics teacher Monique Simpson organized the inaugural museum with volunteer students portraying famous civil rights activists, such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks. Luckey worked with student organizer April Jewellean in 2019 and chose famous Black athletes as the theme for volunteer KHS students.

In 2021, the pandemic forced the Live Museum to go virtual, creating an online, video version in collaboration with KHS video production classes, featuring students portraying Black entrepreneurs.

Event student organizer Davis, a junior and veteran performer in the last Live Museum, was recommended to help by one of the organizing teachers who, “saw that I really enjoyed it, and that I could be a leader,” adding that she was already, “excited to do this again next year.”

Stewart noted that, “We have had a great response. Our student volunteers have chosen a variety of music artists, like Lauryn Hill, Mary J. Blige, TLC, and a couple artists from the 1950’s and 1960’s as well.”

Also, every morning in the month of February, KHS student volunteers read a “Black History Month Fact of the Day” following the Pledge of Allegiance.

Stewart added that, “It is so inspiring to see all these students come together. It’s just awesome to be a part of this. I really hope the live museum will grow awareness about black history while inspiring our younger students to participate in the coming years.”