Algebra 1 teacher Alexzandria Mighty is a sponsor for the BSU club. She gives the group of students advice and support in their endeavors. Photo by Chelsea Townsend.
What is your role in the BSU as a sponsor?
"My role, along with the other sponsors, is to give the group advice. We help them and we support them in any of their endeavors. If they want to do fundraisers, we're there to support them. We help them maintain their monthly meetings with the officers. We also helped maintain a great relationship with the adminstrators to make sure we meet any of those requirements as well. We serve as role models for those students so they have somebody who's a trusted adult who they can speak to, even if it's like college admissions or even things about what they're going through in school. We want to be that extra resource that maybe they don't have."
Why did you choose to become a sponsor?
"I've always been involved in the community. I've always been assisting with people younger than me or young, especially young, black and brown students or kids. When I was in Tampa, I worked with them in college and HBCUs. So when I started attending Stoneman Douglas, of course, I was able to step in on a practice, I was able to help with the black history show last year and I saw how hard these students worked, especially officers, to ensure the show was amazing and also to make sure that they have a great club. It's more than the club. There's a lot of other things that go into it, but I liked it and I want to be a part of it. And so when the students came to me and said their sponsor was no longer going to be a sponsor, I said I would do it but I need support. So that's why I asked the others like Mr. Lamar and Mr. Tracey to help support."
How do you think the show exemplifies black history or black culture?
"Because it does. Well, one thing it does, and number two, it gives the students their own artistic, unique way of expressing their ideals and their relationships with their culture and how they articulate themselves. Why do they dress that way? Why did they speak this way? Or what have we come from? It shows a different type of way of showing that and it's one where everyone is involved. Everybody is putting in all this work by smiling and being happy and cheerful, I'm really happy we had the BHM Show this year. It's a great way to wrap up Black History Month. So I love that we do it here. And I'm excited for everyone to see what happens on February 24. But yeah, I love everybody coming together for one purpose to express and celebrate black culture."
Do you feel students are being properly educated about black history at MSD?
"Well, it's not only this club's job to educate students about black history. That starts when they're young children. It may start when they go to church and may start in elementary school and then middle school or here in high school. We have a more direct way of saying it and students can understand it more because we're older and everybody's trying to get their future together with colleges. Why should I attend that type of college? For example, attending an HBCU was one of the best experiences of my life, just in its own unique way. What you're involved in, what you see, how we celebrate, how you study, how you accomplish things together, those types of things. So I don't know if that will be as relevant now at this school if there wasn't a Black Student Union as it relates to HBCUs, that's the one thing that I think all college students should be educated on. That's number one. And number two, just as you'll see with the show, we're gonna add together all the specs in history's fabrics. And accolades and things like that. And maybe in class when you read about it, you probably ignored it or probably didn't really you see it. You see these black and brown kids coming together to show it or sing it or dance it. It will connect with you in a different way, and you know. I think that will help educate more black history."
What is your opinion on the banning of AP African American History classes in schools?
"Well, I'm so happy that you talked to me. I was a part of a meeting at the city hall. The mayor himself spoke about how AP African American studies should not be banned. And he along with his cabinet, I hope I'm saying that right. The commissioners, all heartily feel and know that that course is relevant to the diversity of the city, and it definitely should be offered to anyone who wants to take it, it doesn't have to be the black and brown kids. So I'm really [glad] that him along with other cities surrounding us are going to fight that, they're going to stand against what Governor DeSantis thinks. It is a horrible thing and not everyone has the right to choose and nothing should be taken away, especially from black kids. Every single high school student should have that opportunity. So my personal opinion, I agree with the mayor, I stand with the mayor of Parkland. That's very important. And I was very happy to shake his hand. I share his beliefs and the City of Parkland standing on that."