Interview With Planner Ms. Shirley Matlack
Black History Month Program 2022
Black History Month Organizer Ms. Shirley Matlack and Nottingham Principal Mr. Frank Ragazzo
Ms. Matlack responds to Nottingham's Journalism class questions about the planning involved with "Black History Month".
NHS Journalism Class: Is there a program for Black History Month every year?
Ms. Matlack: Yes.
NHS Journalism Class: Do you guys switch the theme every year or is it always the same theme?
Ms. Matlack: I am a member of the ‘Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). Located in Washington, DC, it was founded by Carter Woodson in 1926. Themes change each year and date back to 1928.
NHS Journalism Class: What encouraged you to decide this year's theme for the program?
Ms. Matlack: We normally use the theme from the ASALH. This year’s ASALH theme was “Black Health and Wellness.”
NHS Journalism Class: How long did this event take to plan?
Ms. Matlack: The research began in late November, early December.
NHS Journalism Class: What is the easiest thing to plan/organize?
Ms. Matlack: Putting the announcement out for student participation.
NHS Journalism Class: What were some difficulties you encountered while planning?
Ms. Matlack: Student schedules and meeting planning, Covid, the amount of time I spend on the project while still going to eight classes a day.
NHS Journalism Class: How do you recruit students to participate?
Ms. Matlack: An announcement is sent to the history department staff along with a morning announcement.
NHS Journalism Class: Did you get enough volunteers for this presentation?
Ms. Matlack: Yes.
NHS Journalism Class: What/when do you think you will pick the theme for next year's program?
Ms. Matlack: The theme has been announced for next year.
NHS Journalism Class: What is the best part of organizing something so huge and important?
Ms. Matlack: I love research and learning and I know the students that are presenting are learning about lost Black American history.
NHS Journalism Class: What do you, as the organizers, take away from this?
Ms. Matlack: I watch the growth in the student’s skills, their confidence levels, and their interaction with each other.
NHS Journalism Class: Which (and how many) classes attended the program in the library?
Ms. Matlack: Thirteen classes in total; History classes and Special Education classes.
NHS Journalism Class: Would it be possible to allow non-History class students to attend in the future? As someone not in a history class, I wasn't able to attend.
Ms. Matlack: Covid restrictions kept the group size smaller this year. However, this is a great idea. We could leave a set number of slots open to students who are not taking history or attend vo-tech.
NHS Journalism Class: What was last year’s theme?
Ms. Matlack: The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity
NHS Journalism Class: How did COVID-19 affect last year’s event?
Ms. Matlack: The presentation was virtual. Students and staff participation made individual, short videos focusing on their family history and traditions.
NHS Journalism Class: Where can we go for more information about this and related topics?
Ms. Matlack: The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) website offers information on past and current themes. www.asalh.org
NHS Journalism Class: Is there a program for Black History Month every year?
Ms. Matlack: Yes.
NHS Journalism Class: Do you guys switch the theme every year or is it always the same theme?
Ms. Matlack: I am a member of the ‘Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). Located in Washington, DC, it was founded by Carter Woodson in 1926. Themes change each year and date back to 1928.
NHS Journalism Class: What encouraged you to decide this year's theme for the program?
Ms. Matlack: We normally use the theme from the ASALH. This year’s ASALH theme was “Black Health and Wellness.”
NHS Journalism Class: How long did this event take to plan?
Ms. Matlack: The research began in late November, early December.
NHS Journalism Class: What is the easiest thing to plan/organize?
Ms. Matlack: Putting the announcement out for student participation.
NHS Journalism Class: What were some difficulties you encountered while planning?
Ms. Matlack: Student schedules and meeting planning, Covid, the amount of time I spend on the project while still going to eight classes a day.
NHS Journalism Class: How do you recruit students to participate?
Ms. Matlack: An announcement is sent to the history department staff along with a morning announcement.
NHS Journalism Class: Did you get enough volunteers for this presentation?
Ms. Matlack: Yes.
NHS Journalism Class: What/when do you think you will pick the theme for next year's program?
Ms. Matlack: The theme has been announced for next year.
NHS Journalism Class: What is the best part of organizing something so huge and important?
Ms. Matlack: I love research and learning and I know the students that are presenting are learning about lost Black American history.
NHS Journalism Class: What do you, as the organizers, take away from this?
Ms. Matlack: I watch the growth in the student’s skills, their confidence levels, and their interaction with each other.
NHS Journalism Class: Which (and how many) classes attended the program in the library?
Ms. Matlack: Thirteen classes in total; History classes and Special Education classes.
NHS Journalism Class: Would it be possible to allow non-History class students to attend in the future? As someone not in a history class, I wasn't able to attend.
Ms. Matlack: Covid restrictions kept the group size smaller this year. However, this is a great idea. We could leave a set number of slots open to students who are not taking history or attend vo-tech.
NHS Journalism Class: What was last year’s theme?
Ms. Matlack: The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity
NHS Journalism Class: How did COVID-19 affect last year’s event?
Ms. Matlack: The presentation was virtual. Students and staff participation made individual, short videos focusing on their family history and traditions.
NHS Journalism Class: Where can we go for more information about this and related topics?
Ms. Matlack: The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) website offers information on past and current themes. www.asalh.org