African-American studies in most schools are just an elective, and black history is often crammed into February’s Black History Month, underrepresenting essential parts of black culture. But, for the students at Terry Parker High School in Jacksonville, Fla., they are demanding African-American studies receives a full year of class time and they’ve staged a sit-in protest to make their voices heard.

Angelina Roque, a sophomore at the high school and organizer of the protest, stated to a local news team that her goal to the school administration is threefold: "make them hear us, make them see us, make them listen to us." Roque’s passionate remarks speak to all of us.

Ten other classmates joined Roque in the protest and their efforts prompted a conversation with the administration, which also included parents. In response to the conversation, Superintendent Nikolai Vitti said, “I respect that students demonstrated self-advocacy ‎and used their voice to signal concerns about their education. If there is student demand for a full-credit and yearlong African-American-history course, then we should and will provide it to students. We will work through the process of developing and offering that course.”

With young woke students like Roque and her classmates, the future seems bright. Stay woke young ones!

Watch the full story from Action News Jax below:

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Terry Parker High School

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