Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina -- SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C.--- The Seymour Johnson African American Heritage Committee hosted a creation showcase with students of Wayne School of Technical Arts at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, Feb. 10, 2023.
Six students spoke on different topics informing attendees of the developments by African Americans like cultural foods, innovations, and inventions.
The showcase was a chance for students to educate not only themselves but attendees on inventions created by African Americans. The principal of WSTA, Joshua Mallory, was excited for the experience, lessons and development this showcase would allow for the students.
“I want them to have their own knowledge of black history but also to get a lot of other soft skills that come from presenting,” said Mallory. “Skills such as eye contact, public speaking, capacity to be built and to be broadened, the ability to answer questions effectively and to know how to have dialogue or monologue regarding their topic of choice are things they will need to grow into even more qualified and capable twenty-first century citizens. Having those skills before they leave my school is all I want for them as they go out and pursue their dreams.”
Staff Sgt. Alexandria Humphrey, 4th Logistics Readiness Squadron supply inspection supervisor and president of AAHC, was excited to open the floor for WSTA students to show off their knowledge and for attendees to develop a grasp of the vast contributions of African Americans to American history.
“I want guests who come to the showcase to just get a general understanding of how much African Americans have contributed to the United States,” said Humphrey. “There's a lot of inventions out there that people just don't know were created by African Americans such as the mailbox, gas mask,and hair brush.”
Mallory spoke of the pride he has in being the principal of WSTA, but also the dedication the students constantly show him and his staff.
“I’m very proud of my students,” said Mallory. “The work that they’ve put in and the time and commitment that they've added onto their already heavy plates, to be able to add another commitment onto that just shows the level of the quality of students we have at our school. I’m thankful for everyone who's invested their child's development in the hands of our staff. I think that this is just another example of what quality work they can put out and the quality work they can do in the future.”