LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — The Black Males Working Academy, along with the Carter G. Woodson School are two organizations in Lexington that work to close the academic achievement gap that exists in the school system for Black students.
On Sunday night, both groups hosted a rally, to recognize racial injustices and promote change for the future.
Speeches, songs, and poetry, all centered around racial injustice for a rally, called 'Save Our Sons.'
"We really want to show the community that not all African American males are bad, negative, going to jail or are on that pathway," said Jaynae Boateng, the principal of Carter G. Woodson Academy.
The Black Male Working Academy is an after school program, that works with African American men to help them be college and career ready.
Carter G. Woodson Academy is a school that teaches sixth grade through high school African American men the core standards through the lens of African American history and culture.
Both programs work to help their community and fight racial injustices, hoping other people will join their fight.
"They might feel some type of way about the situation but until they, you know, put their boots on the ground and come out, and come out to events like this, participate in protests like this, that's what makes real change," said Shaun Anderson, a graduate of Carter G. Woodson.
The groups say they're always teaching their sons about changing the narrative, the mindset, and preconceived notions about Black men, and that's what the rally was about.
"We're all about the protesters, it is necessary, but we can protest in a positive way, to bring about systemic change, we want to see systems change, policies change, laws change," said Boateng.
