Students, MDE, State Board of Education Celebrate Black History Month

Detroit filmmaker Toby Tansil gives a presentation at the State Board of Education meeting for Black History Month.

LANSING – Helping to celebrate February as Black History Month, Wayne-Westland Community Schools students provided an informative and inspiring presentation centered on civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during a photo slideshow shown at today’s State Board of Education meeting. 

The Wayne-Westland images were from a recent family night at David Hicks Elementary School in Inkster that showcased literacy and social studies projects. It included images of former President Barack Obama and Langston Hughes, legendary Harlem Renaissance poet. The slideshow also featured the 1989 dance hit “Good Life” by the recording act Inner City.  

In a separate presentation, Detroit filmmaker Toby Tansil shared information about his short film “Walk Through the Valley,” which highlights more than 200 years of important contributions of African Americans, many of whom were Michiganders.

Tansil, who is executive director of the 30-minute production, said the film has been shown in several schools, community centers and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit. 

“‘Walk Through the Valley’ is an ongoing project that illustrates the rich history of the city of Detroit and its cultural impact on the world,” Tansil said. 

Black history has been celebrated in the United States since 1926, when Carter G. Woodson established Negro History Week. It was carried the same week as the birthdays of former President Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, an escaped slave and prominent abolitionist movement activist. In 1976, President Gerald R. Ford expanded Negro History Week to Black History Month. 

“As the origin of Black History Month turns 100 years old, it continues to be important that the Michigan Department of Education highlight the unique contributions of the African American community,” said State Superintendent Dr. Glenn Maleyko. “The Michigan Department of Education remains committed to supporting all Michiganders, including African Americans. Putting Students First means ensuring all students have the access and opportunity to reach their goals.”

In 2025, 4,892 Black students took at least one Advanced Placement (AP) exam, up 13.9% from 4,294 the year before and more than double the number of 2,365 from 2021. The number of Black students to score 3, 4 or 5—which often qualifies students for college credits—increased 34.8% from 1,714 in 2024 to 2,310 the following year. AP courses are rigorous and give students an opportunity to take college-level courses while they are still in high school.

Moreover, MDE strongly believes that students should see themselves in their teachers. Department strategies to reduce the teacher shortage and increase teacher certification in areas of shortage are consistent with Goal 7 of Michigan's Top 10 Strategic Education Plan.   

There have been an additional 2,272 teachers of color added to the state workforce in the last eight years, a 34% increase. That includes 1,653 Black or African American teachers, an increase of 336 teachers since 2024.   

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