The bitter cold of an East Side San Antonio winter afternoon came to a sudden halt the second someone entered the In The Eye Of The Beholder Art Gallery. The gallery’s atmosphere — warm with a spicy-sweet aroma — enveloped all who graced its presence on Jan. 31 for the African American History Fair.
The fair, the product of a classroom project titled The Living Wax Museum, showcased the research of a handful of elementary and middle school students embodying prominent figures in African American history. The children dressed and spoke as the figures they studied, allowing their stories spring to life once more through the youth of today.
“I don’t do a number of events that don’t recognize who we are,” owner and curator of In The Eye Of The Beholder Art Gallery Maria M. Williams said. “These kinds of events make sure that we recognize those who are significant in our history. And the fact that these children recognize them [is] extremely important.”
Hushed jazz melodies after the opening remarks soothed the young scholars overflowing with nerves. By 2:30 p.m., the quiet conversations of the parents in attendance gave way to silence; the students, who represented people like Father of the Blood Bank Charles R. Drew and Civil Rights activist Rosa Parks, had the floor.
“I got chills hearing my babies,” seventh grade U.S. history teacher and coach to the students V. Lewis revealed. “I mean, yes, they rehearsed, but I got chills when I actually hear them go forth because I know they’re nervous. And so it was just amazing.
“Even though I say, ‘Go do your research,’ they still teach me something about the individuals that they present.”
Parents seated in the gallery beamed with pride, occasionally whispering reminders to the youngest of the bunch and nodding in approval.
“It’s bringing history to life. It makes them own their project. They become the character. But it’s also a creative way for learning,” A Better Chance for Youth Futures Inc. Founder and Executive Director Monique Robinson expressed. “If you don’t know where you come from, you don’t know where you’re going. And I think that’s the problem that we have now. [A] lot of people obviously don’t know their history, and that’s why it’s being repeated.
“But one thing that we can do is we can learn for ourselves and also teach others — it’s a ‘each one reach one’ mentality.”
The project originates from Detroit, Michigan, where Robinson, a teacher at the time, would organize it yearly in her classroom during Black History Month.
She has continued leading the project in San Antonio for the past two years. In the last four years, she began participating in and collaborating with DreamWeek San Antonio, “a 17-day summit of events to foster the exchange of ideas on universal issues.” The project has been entwined with DreamWeek San Antonio’s programming ever since.
Williams generously offered her gallery to host this year’s fair, recognizing the importance of historical education.
“They’re not being taught about those figures any longer because of the ban on African American studies in different schools,” Williams stated. “As I shared with the parents, we really survive on oral history, so it needs to be something that’s started at home.”
For upcoming DreamWeek San Antonio events, visit dreamweek.org/events/.
