Westbridge Academy’s Music program celebrated notable African-Americans during Black History Month. First, students examined the social setting and historical events leading to the Civil Rights Act through song. One of those songs studied was Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come.” The lesson encouraged students to listen and read the song’s lyrics and thereafter follow-up with a class discussion. A second song studied was Stevie Wonder’s “Living For the City.” After studying both songs the students engaged in a discussion comparing the messages from both. They reflected on each songs lyrical content and its messages of struggles, hopes, and dreams of African-Americans. The month concluded with participation in a similar lesson where students examined Bruce Hornsby’s “That’s Just the Way It Is” as well as Tupac Shakur’s “Changes” which was sampled from Hornsby’s older hit. One of the main topics dicussed in Shakur’s lyrics was the evolution of the Black Panther Party and one of it’s more dynamic leaders Huey Newton. The conversation concluded with the students discussing what changes they have witnessed over time and what are some of the struggles that still remain.
