Tyler Monk (center) speaks with BGHS students after his presentation
February is Black History Month, and at Battle Ground High School students had the opportunity to hear from Tyler Monk, a Portland-born inspirational speaker whose organization, The Underdog Mentality, uses Monk’s own success story as a tool to inspire young people.
“When I look at Black History Month, we tend to focus on the deficits,” Monk told the assembled students. “I like to look at it as an opportunity to talk about what’s in front of us. To be positive and encouraging.”
Monk noted that nearly every person can recount watching a movie or documentary that talks about slavery, segregation, redlining or other obstacles that Black people in America have had to overcome. Not as many could recount seeing something that focuses on the positive impact Black people have had on the country in the years since emancipation and Dr. King’s civil rights movement.
“You have to accept responsibility for your actions and your attitude,” Monk said. “You need to respond in a way to create a positive change in your circumstances.”
Prairie students take the lead
Members of Prairie High School’s Black Student Union
At Prairie High School, members of the school’s Black Student Union took the lead, organizing a combined Black History Month and MLK Day assembly featuring music, dance and even some slam poetry. Students saw the event as an opportunity to express their own culture and send a message.
“A few students do still make hurtful jokes about us,” said freshman Makhi Harris. “Maybe this can help them understand that we don’t enjoy that.”
“For people in the Black community, this isn’t a joke,” agreed fellow freshman Elijah Aponte. “I hope other students understand that our lives may be on the line every time we step outside.”
The students said this event, along with the school’s end-of-year multicultural assembly, represent an opportunity to embrace and share their own history and culture.
“We want others to not just see the color of our skin, but to see the person inside,” Aponte said.
Diversity as strength
Battle Ground Public Schools is home to a diverse student population that speaks 76 different languages and includes dozens of distinct ethnicities. In BGPS, we believe that our differences make us stronger and more resilient. We want our students, staff, volunteers and community to understand that each person is valued and important.