Ellis Faculty Black Historical past Month trend present honors August Wilson, Ann Lowe

The Ellis Faculty held a trend showcase Thursday, paying tribute to pioneers of black tradition: playwright and writer August Wilson and dressmaker Ann Lowe. College students strutted down the runway in fashions from totally different eras representing every decade of Wilson's work.

“Eras of Type: Celebrating August Wilson’s American Century Cycle” started with “Gem of the Ocean,” highlighting the 1900s, and continued with “Radio Golf,” representing the 1990s.

“Being part of the Ellis neighborhood as a full-time mother and occasion planner, it was actually a beautiful expertise placing these two issues collectively,” stated occasion co-chair Alexis Allen. “Ensuring our Ellis women acknowledge the mark so many unbelievable African Individuals have left on our nation's historical past, and doing so in such a enjoyable manner, was heartwarming.

This was the second 12 months of an occasion of this magnitude for Black Historical past Month on the college.

Allen moderated a panel dialogue with historic fiction writer Piper Huguley, who attended by way of Zoom and spoke about her guide, “By Her Personal Design: A Novel of Ann Lowe, Trend Designer to the Social Register,” a fictional novel historic based mostly on a real story. from the lifetime of Ann Lowe.

“I’m so happy with Ellis for creating this chance to honor the late nice playwright and Ann Lowe, and these women are leaders who noticed themselves on stage,” stated Ellis' mom, founding father of FashionAFRICANA and occasion co-chair, Demeatria Boccella . “By introducing you to August Wilson on this capability, you’ll always remember him.”

DJ FEMI performed songs like “Acquired to Give it Up” by Marvin Gaye and “Doo Wop” by Lauryn Hill as college students from kindergarten to 12th grade walked the runway.

“Black Historical past Month is an important month as a result of we deal with telling the tales of people that have made the world a greater place,” stated Nosakhere Griffin-El, co-owner of The Younger Dreamers bookstore together with his spouse, Eliada. “Being at Ellis was vital to me as a result of they’re instructing these younger girls how you can be revolutionary and take into consideration altering the world.”

The Griffin-Els introduced a number of books to promote on the occasion, together with “Solely the Finest: The Distinctive Life and Trend of Ann Lowe,” by Kate Messner; “Burning with Coloration: A Story of the Painter Alma Thomas” by Jeanne Walker Harvey; and “What If…” by Samantha Berger.

“I feel selling black-owned manufacturers is essential since there isn't a lot illustration within the media. I feel it’s actually good to advertise black girls,” stated pupil Taelor Spencer, 17, whereas representing her buddy Zoi Sledge’s Intentional clothes line. “The style present not solely showcases Ellis' college students and builds her confidence, however it additionally helps us study these two outstanding folks.”

“It's very inspiring for me to see my finest buddy develop as an individual and attempt to create this model that has such an encouraging message,” stated pupil Ellie Mahoney, 16.