Thurs - Feb 18th
February brings Black History Month and we will be recognizing a special African American each day during our announcements. Today we are recognizing
Michael Jackson (1958-2009) Singer/Songwriter
Over a career spanning five decades, Jackson would bend all these emerging cultural forces to his will. He arrived on the world stage at age 11, having already sacrificed his youth performing at venues around his Indiana hometown of Gary. Combining the soft-shoed grace of Sammy Davis Jr. with the slip-sliding exuberance of James Brown, Michael and the Jackson 5 topped the Hot 100 with their first Motown Records singles “I Want You Back” and “ABC”. His 1979 coming-of-age solo album, Off The Wall — featuring the self-penned hit “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough” — raised the bar for dance music production. The singer’s 1982 follow-up LP, Thriller, was so successful in assimilating world music styles that it rocketed to No. 1 in most countries, including apartheid-era South Africa. It was the first LP to place seven top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, while nabbing a record-breaking eight Grammys. Thriller remains the best-selling album ever, having moved an undisputed 100 million copies worldwide. Michael Jackson, an African-American who we celebrate today for Black History Month.
7th and 8th graders:
The Binning Family Foundation has an opportunity for you to join their QuaranTEEN Film Festival! Create an original 3-5 minute school-appropriate film and enter it to be reviewed by a panel of judges for prizes. If you’re interested, stop by the office for more information.