Curie’s BSU Celebrates Black History

—  As the majority of Southwest-siders navigate their way through secret one-way after one-way streets through rush hour, the Black Student Union at Curie Metro High School has been putting their boots on the ground to plan their annual Block Party for Black History Month’s Spirit Week.

With the hope of being able to foster a Black community for students that showcases Black culture as something to be treated with care and respect, BSU’s Spirit Week is the week to be in the loop. Inspired by pop-culture as well as actual history, BSU’s Block Party provided arts and craft tables along with games, and plates of mac and cheese with green beans.

Outside of Black History Month’s Spirit week plans, students have been discussing how to combat the casual use of the n-word amongst non-black students, but continue to work on a plan to address the issue.

Another general point of conversation: the threat to Curie’s Full Service Community Schools funds. Cut without notice in December, Curie’s after school programming lost several tutors in subjects like math and reading. Curie’s onsite BPNC Resource Coordinator, Cynthia Ramirez, says this has led after school staff to try and maintain the status quo for students as much as possible.

“We try to help clubs with any supplies that they need. If they’re having an event, we also try to help during those events," Cynthia says. "and then sometimes we also support [financially], like if they need a bus or a field trip or something like that.”

Through strong advocacy from BPNC and Act Now, the Full Service Community School Initiative supporting Curie has been extended to June. When it came to BSU, specifically, though, staff advisor Mrs. Warfield says she trusts BSU's ability to fundraise whatever funds needed for programming.

As a BPNC's School Resource Coordinator, Cynthia also provides support to the school in general, like helping with office tasks and fostering direct relationships with the students. This way Brighton Parks youth have the resources to not only make it through, but succeed.