A school on Chicago’s Far South Side marked a century of Black History Month by staging a performance that paid tribute to artists and creatives from the Harlem Renaissance. Students at Mount Vernon Elementary School participated in “Heroes of the Harlem Renaissance,” an hour-long show featuring dance, music, and history.
The story of the production centered on a grandfather sharing his favorite music with his granddaughter, who gradually became more interested in learning about historical Black figures through their shared experience with music and dance.
Jhaianne Cooper, Mount Vernon’s dance instructor and arts liaison, directed the performance. She allowed students to shape the direction of the showcase, leading to a focus on acting and dancing. Cooper then wrote and choreographed a program highlighting major figures from Black history.
The school selected the Harlem Renaissance as its theme because it was a period of significant cultural growth for Black communities from the 1910s through the 1930s. This era coincides with the creation of Black History Month in 1926 by historian Carter G. Woodson.
Students performed works inspired by influential figures such as Langston Hughes, James Weldon Johnson, Cab Calloway, Annie W. Johnson, Aaron Douglas, Louis Armstrong, Zora Neale Hurston, and Ella Fitzgerald.
“The Harlem Renaissance changed arts not just for the Black community but for the world, and so I wanted our students to understand that historical time period but also to understand that we can do the same thing,” Cooper said. “We can have our own rebirth, our own renaissance, and you all are the next generation to make that change. Allowing them to have these dance classes, acting and singing is giving them that confidence, the skills to get ready so we can have our own renaissance.”
All grades from pre-kindergarten through eighth participated in some way during Mount Vernon’s first student-led Black History Month stage production. Older students took on technical roles behind the scenes managing microphones, lighting, music cues, and curtain changes.
Karissa Oliphant, 14 years old and part of the tech crew for Friday’s show despite being new to theater tech work or dance class participation this semester, said: “Working the equipment was very new. At first I didn’t know how to do it but then I got the hang of it and it was pretty easy. It’s fun.”
Afterwards students helped recreate a mock Cotton Club—a central venue during the Harlem Renaissance—where families could play games or talk with vendors.
The event was made possible by collaboration between Mount Vernon Elementary School at 10540 S. Morgan St., and Uniting Voices Chicago—the school’s partner for its fourth- and fifth-grade choir.
“Growing up I had teachers who were inspiring to me who motivated me,” Cooper said. “So I really want to be a light in their lives—not to be cliché or corny—but to encourage them let them know that they can do so so much more than what they think.”
Mount Vernon Principal Raquel Davis reflected after Friday’s performance on why it matters for young people today to learn about history through creative approaches like this showcase. Davis noted that understanding movements like those led by figures in the Harlem Renaissance helps youth believe they too “can be somebody,” referencing Rev. Jesse Jackson.
“We stand on the shoulders of our forefathers and foremothers who were extraordinarily gifted—and in this social climate where our voice our history is trying to be suppressed—it is that much more important for us to expose these children to our history,” Davis said. “It’s not all gloom and doom. We have a wonderful rich history of freedom of expression of literature of intellectualism. We stand on the shoulders of powerful people—and our students should know where they come from so that they too can be encouraged.”
