Teacher uses art to show Black history is American history
By Ayron Lewallen
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HOOVER, Alabama (WVTM) — In a Hoover High School classroom, art teacher Ahmad Austin uses art to show students that Black history is woven into American history, helping them discover their identities and aspirations.
“Black history is American history. A part of American history wouldn’t be where it is today because of Black history. I think they intertwine together,” Austin said.
As the art teacher at Hoover High School, Austin makes sure students know the names and legacy they’re part of, mentioning artists like Basquiat, Alma Thomas, Jacob Lawrence, and Romare Bearden.
For many students, art is where they find their voice and a place where they feel seen.
Lamon Jarman, a student, said, “All of us shape ourselves to be seen by other people. If you’re going to shape yourself, you might as well do in a way that you like personally and not just because someone told you to style your hair this way, or draw this way, or move that way.”
Capri Parks, another student, finds the classroom a safe space to create without fear.
“Being in this classroom, it’s a lot of discovering that art isn’t about perfecting it and making it look good. It’s about how it makes you feel and if you feel accomplished by that,” Parks said.
Austin hopes his students walk away from his class knowing that art doesn’t stop when the bell rings.
Parks added, “He’s just very good at making sure that art that is done in this room expands outside of it, and that we use that as we go forward through our high school and figure out what we want to do.”
Austin said, “When I was younger, my dad used to play jazz music around the house all the time. At that time, I was all about hip hop and jazz music. I wanted to see that missed. And then as I got older, I can appreciate support. And then I started to kind of implement in my art with the jazz.”
Now, Austin is inspiring the next generation of artists, teaching students that Black art is a living, breathing part of America’s story still being painted, creating a colorful story of our past, present, and future.
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