Community as Resistance at Hayfield Secondary
By Vanessa Williams
For the Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action, Ariel Alford, African American History teacher at Hayfield Secondary in Alexandria, Virginia, married the “Black Villages” principle with the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) “Black Resistance” Black History Month theme. Using the Black Panther Party as a primary focal point, students explored "Community as Resistance."
Students were first introduced to Black writers, poets, and photographers who have recorded the power of community among Black people. They eventually created unique visual presentations and taught middle school students at Hayfield what they learned.
Students closely analyzed photographs of the community by Andre D. Wagner and shared what words and sensory associations they make when they are part of a community. They raised questions like,
“What is community?”
“How have Black people expressed ‘community’ with one another — past and present?”
“What are some common spaces, places, or activities that bring Black people together in community with each other?”
“How have Black communities organized themselves to resist systems of injustice?
Students provided examples of community — barber shops, family reunions, and schools, just to name a few. Then they thought about how communities — collections of people — can band together and resist oppressive forces.
Reading about the Black Panther Party, students affirmed some knowledge they had already been exposed to. They were aware of the free breakfast program and the Party’s belief in armed resistance. The students were surprised to learn about how intentional and comprehensive their community care programming was in wrapping around folks in need, and how widespread Black Panther Party chapters were across the country.
Students subsequently facilitated teach-ins via structured lessons with Allen Johnson’s 7th grade English students. These teach-ins are an example of community action to directly respond to the attacks on teaching the truth in the state of Virginia under governor Glen Younkin’s administration.
Resources:
Read a teaching story about Alford’s class from the 2022 Week of Action.
