Far South Side School Celebrates 100 Years of Black History Month with Harlem Renaissance Stage Show

Mount Vernon Elementary students perform 'Heroes of the Harlem Renaissance' to honor Black artists and creatives from the early 20th century.

Mar. 2, 2026 at 10:23pm

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Students at Mount Vernon Elementary School on Chicago's Far South Side marked the 100th anniversary of Black History Month with a stage production celebrating the Harlem Renaissance. The nearly hour-long performance, 'Heroes of the Harlem Renaissance,' featured music, dance, and acting that highlighted important figures from the 1910s through the 1930s cultural movement, including Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Ella Fitzgerald. The show was led by the school's dance instructor Jhaianne Cooper, who gave students the freedom to shape the production and learn about Black history in an engaging way.

Why it matters

The Harlem Renaissance was a pivotal time of artistic, literary, and cultural growth in Black communities, overlapping with the origins of Black History Month itself. By honoring this history, the school aims to inspire students to understand their roots and feel empowered to create their own 'Renaissance' in the present day.

The details

The student-led production followed a grandfather sharing the music he enjoyed as a young man with his granddaughter, who initially was uninterested in learning about Black historical figures but found common ground through the music and dance. Students showcased various elements of the Harlem Renaissance, including poetry, fashion, and the music of artists like Louis Armstrong and Cab Calloway. Older students also participated as part of the tech crew, controlling the production's microphones, lights, and music.

  • The performance took place on Friday, February 27, 2026.
  • Black History Month was created in 1926 by historian Carter G. Woodson.

The players

Jhaianne Cooper

The dance instructor and arts liaison at Mount Vernon Elementary School who wrote and choreographed the 'Heroes of the Harlem Renaissance' production.

Karissa Oliphant

A 14-year-old student who was part of the tech crew for the performance, controlling microphones, lights, and music.

Raquel Davis

The principal of Mount Vernon Elementary School, who reflected on the importance of Black youth learning their history in meaningful ways.

Mount Vernon Elementary School

A school on Chicago's Far South Side that hosted the Black History Month stage production.

Uniting Voices Chicago

The school's arts partner for its fourth and fifth grade choir, who helped make the performance possible.

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What they’re saying

“The Harlem Renaissance changed arts not just for the Black community but for the world, and so I wanted our students to understand that historical time period but also to understand that we can do the same thing. We can have our own rebirth, our own Renaissance, and you all are the next generation to make that change.”

— Jhaianne Cooper, Dance instructor and arts liaison

“Growing up, I had teachers who were inspiring to me, who motivated me. So I really want to be a light in their lives, not to be cliché or corny, but to encourage them, let them know that they can do so, so much more than what they think.”

— Jhaianne Cooper, Dance instructor and arts liaison

“We stand on the shoulders of our forefathers and foremothers who were extraordinarily gifted, and in this social climate where our voice, our history is trying to be suppressed, it is that much more important for us to expose these children to our history. It's not all gloom and doom. We have a wonderful, rich history of freedom, of expression, of literature, of intellectualism. We stand on the shoulders of powerful people, and our students should know where they come from so that they, too, can be encouraged.”

— Raquel Davis, Principal

What’s next

Following the Harlem Renaissance showcase, Mount Vernon Elementary School plans to continue incorporating Black history and the arts into their curriculum to empower students and inspire the next generation of creatives.

The takeaway

This production demonstrates the power of engaging students in their own cultural history through the arts, allowing them to take ownership of their learning and find inspiration to create their own 'Renaissance' in the present day. By honoring the legacy of the Harlem Renaissance, the school is helping to ensure that this pivotal chapter of Black history is not forgotten, but rather celebrated and built upon by the next generation.