Saturday, February 28, 2015

PS4 Celebrates Black History: The African American Experience

Students listen to Mr. Keys' mother and aunts as they share their stories of living in Harlem in the 1960's.

To celebrate Black History Month, Mr. Keys brought in three very special guests!  Guest Speakers Mozella Keys (the mother of Mr. Keys), Helen Baker (Mr. Keys' aunt), and Ann Burley (another aunt)!  These three sisters visited the boys and girls of class 520 and allowed them to ask questions about living in the Harlem in the 1950's and 1960's. They all lived during the civil rights era after migrating from South Carolina.  They were 6, 9 and 11 years old.  They boarded a train and arrived in Harlem where they stayed with their aunt who lived on 158 Street and St Nicholas Ave. This was an area of Harlem called "Sugar Hill".  They shared great stories of attending school with actor and activist Harry Belafonte, actress Diana Carroll, boxer Joe Lewis and famous singer Frankie Lymon. Even the great Duke Ellington lived in the neighborhood!

Special thanks to Ms. Keys, Ms. Baker and Ms. Burley who gave our students a better understanding of the African-American experience.




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