School employee greets students as African American role models during Black History Month

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — School dropoff at Don Brewer Elementary School is a little bit different during Black History Month.

Action News Jax was at the school Wednesday morning as paraprofessional Angela Riley-Maxwell greeted the elementary schoolers dressed as Navy messman Doris Miller.

Riley-Maxwell said she’s a different persona each day of February.

She said, “I try to bring that person to life so they can know the history of what the people have done.”

Riley-Maxwell explained that she hasn’t always been able to celebrate her heritage.

“I have been a little girl and had rocks thrown at me when I would got to South Carolina in the summers with my grandparents,” she described.

The paraprofessional said she wants the next generation to know the people who stood up against discrimination, so she dresses up and the kids take notice.

Fifth-grader Belle Taylor said, “So much history and it makes me think about so much and learn that so many people have done so many things for us to be here.”

Parents admitted they learn just as much as their kids every February.

A mom, Mia Wilson, said, “She definitely goes to read the book to see who the person is she’s dressed up as and then she’ll ask a few questions and then her and I talk about it after school.”

Riley-Maxwell said every question from every student is a step towards her ultimate goal.

“Somebody has to break the cycle, because of my love for people I have to let people know that we’re in this together,” she said.

Riley-Maxwell told Action News Jax in March she’ll dress as influential female role models for Women’s History Month.

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