African past, U.S. future for Armstrong students

How can an ancient African past inspire Armstrong High School students as future leaders?

The Armstrong Leadership Program, in conjunction with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, is using African art — particularly VMFA's groundbreaking exhibit "Dynasty and Divinity: Ife Art in Ancient Nigeria" — as a means of broadening the students' view of what leadership means.

Like many things associated with Africa, the idea was inspired by the elders.

"I talked to many of the parents and seniors who've come to the exhibit who are eager to know that their heritage is more than they see in the media," said Carmen Foster, director of community affairs for the museum. Those parents and seniors said young African-Americans need to see the art.

"The whole deal was, How do you use the art to talk not only about your heritage, but, what are the values and wisdom that you need to pass from generation to generation?" Foster said.

She took the idea to the Armstrong Leadership Program, founded by the Rev. Benjamin Campbell of Richmond Hill to smooth the transition after the merger of Armstrong and the former John F. Kennedy High.

The three dozen students in the program began their journey March 17 at Richmond Hill. Richard Woodward, VMFA's African-art curator, prepped them for their museum visit by showing a PowerPoint presentation to expand their visual concept of leadership.

He showed them two photos of two works of art — one realistic, one conceptual.

The first photo was of George Washington's statue at the Virginia Capitol, in a pose that some might call a classical Western expression of leadership. He is in military attire with a sword, a bundle or rods symbolizing his authority, and a plow at his feet.

The other photo was of a wooden Songye figure of power on display at VMFA. The 3-foot figure, which represents a man, has a horn rising from his head (symbolizing wisdom), a face of copper strips and brass tacks (wisdom and the mystery of transformation), and hands on each side of a prominent belly (metaphors for well-being and community care).

The students visited the museum Friday and were handed a booklet with leadership questions and about a dozen African proverbs on leadership.

Foster noted Monday that VCU basketball coach Shaka Smart collects inspirational quotes. "If Shaka can inspire his team to make the Final Four, what is it that we need to do to inspire these kids so they can be the best that they can be?"

During their museum visit, she held up photos of President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama.

"Look at the sense of dignity and pride they have in themselves," she said. "These are the kings and queens of America. And you all are the future kings and queens of America."

Karen Getty, a VMFA art educator, led students on a tour of the African art exhibits. The copper alloy and terra cotta portrait heads of Ife kings and other rulers on display were a point of emphasis.

Getty noted that the heads are disproportionately large in comparison with the body. "The head is the most important part of your body in Yoruba culture," she said. "You hold your ashé" — inner essence and power —"in your head."

She stressed the Yoruba concept of the outer head and inner head, with the inner head being thought of as far more important. "If you want to be beautiful according to the Yoruba, you must have a beautiful, pure inner head."

All the talk about heads clearly made the students think, both about the past and the future.

"It makes you feel good because you really know what your culture was about," senior Tony Scott said afterward. "We weren't all about slaves."

Sophomore Kenyetta White was thinking about kings and queens and an ancient culture that produced extraordinary art. "It shows that you can be and do better than you are now," she said.

mwilliams@timesdispatch.com

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