St. Paul, MN – On September 8, the Benjamin E. Mays Afrocentric Magnet School opened its doors to students in the historic Rondo neighborhood, fulfilling a half‑century vision championed by community leaders and the district’s own Superintendent Stacie Stanley.
Community roots and historic significance
Stanley, who grew up in Rondo, recalled her mother’s 1976 advocacy for an Afrocentric school. “This is the epitome of showing who we are,” she said after greeting a confident fifth‑grader who announced, “Fifth grade coming!”
The school board voted in 2024 to shift the former International Baccalaureate focus to an Afrocentric program, keeping many teachers and students from the previous year while adding new cultural elements that reflect the neighborhood’s predominantly African‑American population.
Curriculum grounded in African heritage
Students will participate in a daily morning assembly called Harambee—Swahili for “all pull together”—featuring high‑energy singing, dancing and chanting. The school also adopts a house system modeled after historic African empires: Ghana, Great Zimbabwe, Mali and Kush.
Academic instruction is built on the Nguzo Saba, the seven principles of Kwanzaa, and eight Black historical consciousness principles. These guide lessons in history, literature, art and social‑emotional learning.
Social‑emotional focus
Lonnika Barbee, the school’s SEL specialist, gathered third‑graders on a dark brown carpet and led them through activities to identify emotions, build friendships and resolve conflict. She emphasized that the school aims to “restore and heal our village together,” noting that when one scholar struggles, the whole community feels it.
Barbee also addressed everyday challenges, encouraging students to raise a pinkie if they felt nervous and discussing experiences of skin‑color teasing. “We were born with this, and we are going to grow up as beautiful Black and brown children, and that is a blessing,” she affirmed.
Arts and student voice
Art teacher Lindsay Walker introduced the Nguzo Saba principles to second‑graders, prompting them to create drawings that reflect each value. One student praised the new carpet, likening its color to “skin color,” while another noted the difficulty of putting away markers, reminding the class that patience and faith (Imani) are part of the learning process.
Looking ahead
Harambee assemblies and the house system will launch later this month after students settle into routines. Early days focused on classroom logistics—nametags, bathroom policies and orderly transitions to assemblies.
Stanley reflected on her own schooling, recalling an African‑American first‑grade teacher who believed in her potential. “There were no questions about that. She knew my family cared about me,” she said. “Having a collectivist classroom where talking is encouraged makes a huge difference.”
The opening of the Benjamin E. Mays Afrocentric Magnet School adds to St. Paul Public Schools’ recent cultural initiatives, which include an East African magnet school, Karen language and culture programs, and a Hmong language middle school. The district’s commitment to culturally responsive education aims to strengthen families, honor faith traditions and provide students with a sense of identity rooted in their heritage.
Original reporting: Sahan Journal — read the source article.
