Video project empowers students to teach Black history

A Stamford school is celebrating Black History Month with a unique video project that's turning students into teachers.

At Rogers International School in Stamford, the morning video announcements have included students in grades K-8 who created short clips highlighting important Black figures in our history.

The videos feature athletes and artists, politicians and civil rights icons, including Shirley Chisolm, Kareem Abdul-Jabar, Duke Ellington, Langston Hughes, Ruby Bridges and Jackie Robinson. 

Erica Carryl, a parent and head of the PTO’s new Anti-Racism Committee, came up with the idea.

“We thought, what better way to get our kids learning than to have them doing the research and present it to their fellow students,” she says. “We also thought it would be a great way for students and their parents to talk about race. It’s an issue that not everyone feels comfortable talking about, and it’s a natural way to get those conversations starting.”

The videos will continue during morning announcements through the rest of the month.

MORE: WATCH THE STUDENT VIDEOS