February 25, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Quindaro IS Black History
Students Perform and Celebrate Their Heritage and School History

History is literally all around them, and Michael Hegge wants to make sure they know it. Hegge is the vocal music teacher at Quindaro Elementary School in Kansas City, Kan., a school whose land is richly associated with black history. During February Black History Month, Hegge is educating the students about the history of their school, their community and, for many, their own heritage.

On Tuesday, Feb. 26, at 6 p.m. the students will present the program, "Quindaro IS Black History," which was written by Hegge. It's based on the true story of Quindaro (Nancy) Brown, daughter of Adam Brown, a chief with the Wyandot Indian Tribe. She married Abelard Guthrie and the two owned a farm where the school stands today. The farm was a stop on the Underground Railroad in the early 1840s, where the couple offered slaves shelter. Quindaro's location, just across the Missouri River from the proslave state of Missouri, made it an ideal station for escaping slaves on their route north to freedom.

"This site is rich in history and I want to make sure the kids know about it, and the community as well," Hegge said.

Fifth-grade students will narrate the program, while kindergarten through fourth-grade students sing spirituals and other songs. Fourth and fifth-grade strings students will also perform as part of the program.

Hegge has taken advantage of the rehearsal time to talk with students about their school's history and the black culture. One day he posed the question to them, "What's going on in the world today that is important to black history?" One student was quick to reply "The presidential election. It's the first time a black man has run for president."

He also wants them to be proud of their community – the community of Quindaro which is often viewed as an area with high crime and a poor socioeconomic status.

"We hope this program will change the whole connotation about Quindaro from negative to positive," Hegge said. "Quindaro is rich in history, and it is not a place to be ashamed of. It really should be on the National Register of Historic Places."