This week in November, Hamlin 3rd graders had the opportunity to visit the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD).

“The Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) is based in the San Francisco Bay Area and plays a vital role in the local arts community.  MoAD is uniquely positioned as one of the few museums in the world focused exclusively on African diaspora culture and on presenting the rich cultural heritage of the people of Africa and of African descendant cultures all across the globe” (MoAD website).

Students began their experience by talking about the meaning of diaspora (the migration of African people all around the world), and discussed the museum’s themes: origin, movement, transformation, adaptation.

The girls walked up the stairs next to the enormous photo collage (see above); each student focused on one picture and pondered how the image was connected to the African diaspora.

The 3rd graders spent reflective time looking at the art work of Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle. The girls viewed the “healing garments” along with other sculptures and paintings. There was a sculpture on the wall made of real human hair woven together to symbolize unity. The girls also participated in an investigative scavenger hunt in the gallery, searching for themes of tradition, culture, and change.

A Hamlin student shared what she liked best. “I liked the video that talked about the origins of language formation in Africa; that was really interesting.”

The MoAD experience “intertwined art and culture in a way that was relevant and helped our students better understand African culture as a whole,” said Hamlin teacher Kendall Jones.

For more information about the MoAD and to see Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle’s work, please visit:

http://www.moadsf.org/exhibition/who-among-us-the-art-of-kenyatta-a-c-hinkle/