Malta elementary students bring Black history to life

MALTA – Eleven-year-old Cian Carter was decked out from head to toe just like Brazilian footballer Pele.

The DeKalb resident said he was excited to portray Pele, even if for one day only.

“I really like soccer,” Carter said. “I just really like Pele.”

Carter was among more than 50 fifth-grade students at Malta Elementary School delivering what staff called wax museum presentations to cap off Black History Month commemorating prominent figures in Black history.

[ Photos: Malta Elementary fifth grade students host "Wax Museum" for Black History Month ]

Malta Elementary School teacher Ryan Wood said there is a lot for students to take away from participating in the wax museum.

“Ideally, the students learn about somebody that they didn’t previously know that much about and then they learn all the facts, the ins and outs,” Wood said. “Then, they teach what they learn to someone else. So they teach their new knowledge. So now others have now learned this new person.”

For about a month, students researched, prepared a presentation and gathered artifacts and clothes on their chosen historical figure.

Carter said he was inspired to pick Pele, in part, because he’s a soccer fan.

“I play a lot,” Carter said. “It’s probably my favorite sport.”

Carter said he enjoyed taking part in the wax museum.

“I’ve learned a lot just Googling facts,” Carter said. “It’s just random [things] not a lot of people know.”

“Ideally, the students learn about somebody that they didn’t previously know that much about and then they learn all the facts, the ins and outs. Then, they teach what they learn to someone else.”

—  Ryan Wood

Liam Larkin, 11, of Malta stood greeting people as Jackie Robinson during his presentation.

Larkin said he’s glad he decided to take part in the wax museum.

“He’s one of my favorite baseball players,” Larkin said. “He was the reason African American players got to play sports.”

Larkin said he put some careful thought and consideration into what to wear for his presentation.

“It didn’t take too long,” he said. “It was like three days. … I think they like it.”

Romel Banks, 10, of DeKalb was dressed as his idol, former President Barack Obama.

“I would like to be him,” Banks said.

Bank’s mother, Shaquilla Banks, said she’s amazed by how well her son’s presentation came together.

“I watched him day in and day out working hard on this just to put in the time to understand how hard it is as Black people,” she said.

Romel Banks said he’s learned a lot about Obama while studying to be him.

“He let gays marry each other,” Romel Banks said. “He eliminated Osama Bin Laden. He talked a whole country out of sending missiles to us. Overall, he’s a cool dude.”

Other notable appearances in the wax museum were made by Jean Baptiste, Rosa Parks, Tupac, Ruby Brides and James Brown.

Romel Banks said he’s enjoyed taking part in the presentations.

“They actually like it,” he said. “I try to be professional.”

Wood said parents have been raving about the wax museum and how engaged the students appeared to be.

“The parents I’ve talked to have been blown away at the amount of information that students have memorized and know,” Wood said. “It’s not just written on cards, although some of it is, that they really know their person and are really teaching other people about them.”

Wood said it’s been amazing to see how other grades across the district have implemented similar presentations.

He said he hopes the importance of celebrating Black History Month rings true for many, especially the significant of learning about prominent figures in Black History in today’s world.

“Many of these people – Jackie Robinson, he’s famous – everyone knows him, but there are so many in here that even I learn new things every year.” Wood said. “Because we have a list of 200 people and what their speciality is, so every year someone picks somebody that I really don’t know all that much about frankly. It’s really cool. I get taught something new every single year. So really it’s to open up everyone’s horizons about somebody new that they wouldn’t have otherwise learned about.”