Chicago Teacher Recreates Stunning Photos to Honor Black History Month!
By: Kiana Keys
Known for her fashion, intellect and creativity, Jasmyne Portee-Haywood of Chicago engages her students every year with stunning depictions of prominent figures in Black history. Using herself as the subject, Jasmyne carefully recreates timeless photos of historical and influential Black Americans that have deeply impacted our society. From famous slaves to modern Olympians, Jasmyne embodies each figure and teaches her students about their legacy. Here are some of the stunning depictions shared with her students for Black History Month!
Harriet Tubman: Head “Conductor” of the Underground Railroad who led many enslaved people to freedom
Ida B. Wells: A journalist, activist, researcher, and one of the Founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
Madam CJ Walker: A philanthropist, activist, and entrepreneur that became the first Black woman self-made millionaire
Bessie Coleman: The first Black woman and Native-American pilot, and the first Black person to earn an International Pilot License
Ruby Bridges: The first Black child to desegregate an all-white Louisiana elementary school in 1960
Katherine Johnson: A “human computer” and brilliant mathematician who calculated orbital mechanics to send the first astronauts into space
Althea Gibson: The first black tennis player to win the coveted Grand Slam title
Rosa Parks: An activist who helped to start the Civil Rights Movement when she refused to give up her seat on the bus
Coretta Scott-King: A Black author, activist, Civil Rights leader, and wife of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Mae Jemison: The first Black woman to travel into space
Misty Copeland: The first Black Female Principal Dancer with the American Ballet Theatre
Laila Ali: One of the greatest female boxers of all time holding WBC, WIBA, IWBF and IBA female super middleweight titles, and the IWBF light heavyweight title
Simone Biles: A Black gymnast with 7 medals and tied with only one other person for the most Olympic medals won by an American gymnast
Michelle Obama: An attorney, author, and first Black First Lady of the United States of America as the wife of Barack Obama
Who will Jasmyne portray next February? stay tuned, it will be worth the wait!
By: Kiana Keys
