Black History Month: Conversation Starters for Afrofuturism, Sustainable Design, and Change Through Fashion
Black History Month is an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate Black voices, talents, and culture that are woven throughout American history and oftentimes forgotten.
During our 2024 Black History Month celebration, students are exploring the theme Strings and Threads. This year's programming highlights Black artists and musicians whose intergenerational history informs and inspires their art.
We hope that you will continue the conversations started in each session at home, deepening a shared conversation between you.
Afrofuturistic Fashion & Influencing Social Change Through Fashion
This morning, stylist and artist Kamala Bhagat visited our students to talk about Afrofuturism, biophilic design, and how inspiration is transformed into materials and textiles during her creative process. In the afternoon, 7th and 8th graders heard from stylist and creative director Jon Cope about how many opportunities you can find to hone your skills while on your path to whatever you define as success. Cope told students that working with nonprofits can be an excellent way to put your creativity toward something that speaks to you while meeting other people who share the values you find important.
Conversation StartersI hear you experienced another Black History Month presentation. What was it about?
Today was the last day of Black History Month. Tell me about the presentations you experienced today.
What was most inspiring about the presenters and what they shared with you today?
What was most surprising about your experience today?
Do you have any thoughts about how the presenters' life experiences have shaped their view of fashion and its role in society today?
Kamala Bhagat is a stylist and creator known for her sustainable Afrofuturist silhouettes from her clothing brand, Kamala Bhagat Couture. In addition to her role as a natural hair specialist at Jade Multicultural Salon, Bhagat is an artistic cultivator of fashion, hair, and content inspired by mind, body, spirit, and reconnection.
Jonathan Copeland (Jon Cope) is a Multi-hyphenate Fashion Stylist, Creative Director, and host based in Richmond, VA. Copeland has over 10 years of experience in fashion retail, visual merchandising, blogging, magazine publication, public speaking, fashion event planning and hosting. Copeland has recently established a media company, In My Fashion Media (IMF MEDIA), geared towards creating content for fashion and home decor brands in Richmond and beyond.
Working with various organizations such as VCU’s Fashion Department, Dress for Success Central Virginia, ART180, and Girls for a Change, Copeland uses fashion as a medium to bring awareness to underserved communities, social issues, and the power that fashion has to benefit the community at large. Jon Cope is a contributing writer and fashion stylist to various publications, locally and online, including Richmond Magazine, Richmond Bride, R•Home Magazine, and Style Weekly, and now serves as Oakwood Arts Creative Arts and Culture Coordinator.
Thank you to the members of the OHMS Black History Month parent committee for the work and thought put into designing a program designed to show students the interwoven artistry and voices of Black culture.
Tonita Aldridge-Williams P '27, Kasey Buckland P '25, Ellie Burke P '25, Portia Chan P '25, Taekia Glass P '24, Shanza Isom P '26, Becky Lakin P '27, Emily Maynard P '27, Rob Nelson P '24, & Jessica Scalin P '27
