NEW ORLEANS — Students at New Harmony High School showed off their history projects Wednesday, as they hosted "The Trail They Blazed" traveling exhibit.
In partnership with the Historic New Orleans Collection, students created artwork that reflected the themes of the curated museum honoring the legacy of civil rights leaders, advocates, and activists.
Stephen Bradberry, an African American History teacher at New Harmony, reached out to the Historic New Orleans Collection and was able to have the exhibit hosted inside the school.
"Which then allowed me an opportunity to expand upon it with the students so that they could do a deeper dive on the people and places and events that occurred during that time," Bradberry said. "And because it was something that happened locally, places they know, some of them knew the people involved and made for a much more engaging activity."
An array of posters filled the walls, featuring themes of music, public school desegregation, and New Orleans social aid and pleasure clubs.
Two 10th-grade students collaborated on a project about Ruby Bridges.
"I definitely use the lessons I learned to teach me about resistance, hard work, and keeping your head up high," said AsaseYaa Aboagye.
The president and CEO of the Historic New Orleans Collection came to support the students.
"We're just so excited about New Harmony High School hosting this exhibit, but more importantly providing an opportunity for their students to build off of it," said Daniel Hammer.
"Wherever there is this type of civil rights history is being told and it's being told to children, that's a spark for me," said Leona Tate, Executive Director of the Leona Tate Foundation and founder of the TEP Center.
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