Aiken High School students in Dr. Kayla Hostetler’s dual enrollment class, English IV honors class, and English II class hosted a Black History Month Fair on Monday, February 28, 2022, during which they presented research papers and posters on selected African American authors. The event was open to the community.
As part of this project, each student researched an African American author, wrote a paper about their person, and created a visual poster detailing the author’s life and accomplishments. Students set up their posters across the Aiken High Cafeteria, and guests stopped by to learn about the authors. The students engaged in conversations with community members, parents, and School District staff while sharing the author’s significance to society. Senior and Junior presenters also memorized a selection of the author's work and created a handout for guests.
A wide variety of authors were showcased, including more familiar figures such as former first lady Michelle Obama and television tycoon Oprah Winfrey, as well as less familiar novelists and poets like Octavia Estelle Butler, Jacqueline Woodson, and James Baldwin.
Dr. Hostetler, who is recognized as a Sankofa Teacher by the Center of Education and Equity of African American Students (CEEAAS), says she wanted to host the event after sharing ideas with one of the CEEAAS’s directors.
“I realized I could do more to engage my students, so I had my students conduct research on an author to understand the importance, creativity, perspectives, and beauty that African American authors have contributed to American literature,” stated Hostetler.
Senior Jabrasia Corley says she was inspired to research author Zora Neale Hurston, an author she could relate to in some aspects of her life.
“Zora Neale Hurston has always been an interesting person to me ever since I read her book ‘Their Eyes Were Watching God’,” Jabrasia commented. “During my research I learned the importance of using non-bias, factual resources.”
Dr. Hostetler said her students used research, writing, reading, and communication skills to successfully complete their projects in the first Black History Month Fair at Aiken High, an event she hopes will become an annual tradition at the school.
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LINK TO DISTRICT PRESS RELEASE: 2022 PR AHS BLACK HISTORY PROGRAM