The Craft Theater was filled with live jazz music and a festive feast. Walking into Kraft, parents felt that National African American Parent Involvement Day was going to continue to be a strong tradition at CHS. “I still come and support my daughter,” said Antinette Williams, parent of Latrece Brabson.
Every year the BSU hosts a luncheon on NAAPID for parents and teachers. During the luncheon there is time set aside for the students to put on a miniature talent show before the audience. This year an a capella group sang and Latrece Babson and her mother performed an African dance. Williams likes the idea that there is time set aside in the luncheon for the students to perform. “NAAPID is important to me because students get to showcase their talents and it allows student’s voices to be heard.”
Even though CHS has a lower demographic of African American students than the other Ann Arbor high schools, it doesn’t influence the importance of NAAPID. “I think CHS takes it even more seriously than some of the other schools,” said Shauntel Blair, one of the parents who attended.
One of the purposes of this event is for students from CHS to come together and learn about black history. Each year the BSU asks a guest speaker to present words of wisdom to the new generation. This year’s speaker was Rev. James Cochran. He shared a story about his first experience with racism as a young boy. “I cannot tell you how humiliated I was,” said Cochran. Cochran told the audience about a time he went to a restaurant with a group to get breakfast. After handing out menus to everyone, the waiter returned 15 minutes later and said, “We do not serve to people like him,” as he pointed to Cochran. That experience was to be repeated over and over.
Cochran expressed at the end of his speech that we are blessed to have more opportunities than he did. He urged the students to push themselves to the best of their abilities and not to let racism limit their potential. “Even though we have negative experiences, there are many more positive experiences.”
