Inspiring quotes get PBHS students thinking

Pine Bush High School celebrated Black History Month in many ways, from bulletin boards throughout the building to lessons taught.

A woman with long dark hair stands next to a high school young man sitting at his desk, looking at a Chromebook.

Jillian Goodwin and Grace Mansfield collaborated in their English class to get their students thinking about the meaning of quotes from several high-profile Black Americans. They were to read and think about the quotes then choose two that really spoke to them. They took post-it notes and wrote what the quotes meant to them. After the notes were posted to the chosen quotes, Ms. Goodwin facilitated a discussion on what the quotes mean to them.

A woman with long dark hair, wearing a black shirt and green pants, talks to a group of high school students, all seated at their desks.

A woman with long dark hair, wearing green pants and a black shirt, leans down to a student sitting at his desk, wearing a hoodie. They are looking at a Chromebook.

This exercise got everyone thinking- thinking about what the quote meant to the person who said it as well as what it meant to them.

A large white piece of poster paper with green, pink and yellow post-it notes on the perimeter. In the center is a multicolored piece of paper with the quote "The things that make us different, those are our super powers" by Lena Waithe.

“Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations” was one of the quotes posted. It was from Dr. Mae Jemison, engineer, physician, and former NASA astronaut who became the first Black woman to travel into space. Many students found that quote spoke to them. “Don’t let others limit you,” said one student. Great advice for everyone. “Be your own person and don’t let others get in your way,” said another.

A high school girl sits at a desk writing. A high school boy stands behind her putting a post-it note on a large poster.

Other quotes included:

“The things that make us different, those are our superpowers.” – Lena Waithe

“Hate is too great a burden to bear. It injures the hater more than it injures the hated.” – Coretta Scott King

“I am America. I am the part you won’t recognize. But get used to me. Black, confident, cocky; my name, not yours; my religion, not yours; my goals, my own; get used to me.” Muhammad Ali

“And yes, we are far from polished, far from pristine. But that doesn’t mean we are striving to form a union that is perfect. We are striving to forge our union with purpose, to compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and conditions of man.” Amanda Gorman

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