A wax museum is a place where you can see lifelike wax statues of famous people. These figures look real that sometimes, visitors can’t tell the difference between the living and the artificial. These museums are an opportunity for visitors to learn about important people from history, in a fun and engaging way. Wax museums help bring the past to life and make it easier to understand who these people were and what they contributed to the world.

This year, Cardozo’s Office of Climate and Culture, in partnership with the Gateway Program, hosted their second annual Living Wax Museum Exhibit to honor Black History Month.

Black History Month is honored every February and is a time to celebrate Black leaders, inventors, artists, and activists. It was created to help people remember the important things Black people have done in history — especially in America. Schools and communities use this month to teach about famous Black figures, like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Harriet Tubman.

While these individuals have made a lasting impact on society, there are many other Black leaders and artists who many times go unrecognized. The wax museum for is a great way to learn about these unsung heroes. Students and staff were able to walk around and see realistic statues of Black historical figures, helping them understand their impact, and hearing about their legacy. 

Cardozo’s Gateway and Office of Climate and Culture utilized different locations inside our school to symbolize different people. In the library, many authors and writers shared their stories, while in the court room, activists and judges. On Friday, they wrapped up their three-day series with performances in our school’s auditorium.

From names like Augusta Savage, Cicely Tyson, Marie Van Britton Brown to Dapper Dan and Billie Holiday, amongst so many others, students were able to see the significant impact that black Americans have had on our history. Ms. EJ and Ms. Millen were able to put this together flawlessly and it was a great experience for anyone who attended. 

Both Ms. EJ and Ms. Millen shared, “Many people don’t know the different people who flew the tapestry to make this world what it is today.” This further led to why they wanted to do different genres and several days of the museum. They both explained having writers in the library, activists in the courtroom, and artists in the auditorium gave the Cardozo community a true, well-rounded view of the contributions these individuals had on our world. The event has expanded so much since last year, and it has many more years to come.

With it being only the second installment of the Living Wax Museum, it’s already a huge success. With today’s world bringing forth a lot of change,  learning about different cultures and histories is vital. It helps everyone understand each other better and appreciate different backgrounds, celebrating those who came before us. Black History Month is a great time to do this because it reminds people of the struggles and achievements of Black individuals throughout history.

A big thank you to all of the students of Cardozo who participated and represented these outstanding individuals for Black History Month:

Check out some of the presenters below: 

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