For Nailea Godinez, a Black History Month assignment at Richards High School in Oak Lawn offered a rare look into the background of her vice principal, as well as some of the people of color from the past who influenced him.
Godinez and her fellow digital photography students were tasked with choosing a black student or staff member to photograph and then include in the picture an influential black person from the past. The assignment gave students like Godinez insight into the lives of black people they see every day but also a chance to use their creative skills.
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So Godinez spent much of a recent class period — around 40 minutes — talking to Toriano Griggs, the vice principal, whom she said neither she nor her fellow students knew very well. Godinez said she was inspired by his ability to endure difficulties in his earlier life but use them to become who he was.
“He kind of revealed how his childhood was difficult and filled with a lot of family problems,” said Godinez, a senior who lives in Oak Lawn. “It could have honestly affected him emotionally as he grew up but what he showed me was that it made him stronger and wiser.
“It built him to be a very educated person who set an example for his own family, as it does for the rest of the students in the school,” said Godinez.
Godinez said her subject’s father was black but much of his identity came from his white mother because he spent more time with her.
Because Frederick Douglass and Malcolm X had influenced Griggs, Godinez decided to include pictures of them in the photograph of the vice principal.
“He himself mentioned these two as very important figures he looked up to as a kid,” said Godinez. “He aspired to be just like them.”
Olivia Bell, the digital photography teacher who came up with the assignment, said she was researching different ideas for Black History Month and came upon a quote that said, “WE are black history.”
“I wanted the students to really get to know and interview their fellow classmates and fellow teachers who are African American and get to know their side, as well as historical figures,” said Bell.
Bell said students like Nailea got a closer look at black students or staff than they ordinarily might.
“She got to really experience his timeline as she interviewed him and see his side of the story,” said Bell.
“Focusing on photojournalism and being able to take photos of people while telling their stories, that was a new take on photography for them,” said Bell.
The framed photos are on display at the school, some on a staircase and the rest in other parts of the building. Bell said next year she hopes to create a gallery with photos from the assignment.
Janice Neumann is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.