“I thought it was a hobby, but it ended up being a passion, something that I could use to connect to my students this very day,” says Malinda Jackson a third-grade teacher at Baldwin Hills Elementary who has recently gone viral on TikTok after clips surfaced of students dancing and singing to honor black history. This program titled “It’s Us Celebration” marked the end of the school year. A play on words instead of “It’s a Celebration”, Jackson titled the show “It’s Us Celebration”, which sounds the same as “a” when said quickly. This show highlighted African American legends from the past through music and dance. The tributes included in this production highlighted the greats in African American history in all different arenas, from music to the sports world. Jackson was the lead director and choreographer of this production leading students to learn more about black history and to celebrate who they are.
Two of the most viral moments were choreographed by Jackson. A tribute to Jackie Robinson, the first African American professional baseball player (MLB), and Micheal Jackson, who is known as the “King of Pop”. Students who participated in this show were part of an “after-school enrichment class” where Jackson became “the dance teacher” and pushed students to their greatest potential through practice.
For Jackson it was all about finding the potential in students who liked to “move” and going from there she planted the seed saying, “I am known as the seed planter, and I find the Malinda’s of my class and I invite them [to dance], they may not be a dancer but I call them a mover.”
With a passion for dance and including all students who wanted to “move”, Jackson’s love for the performing arts rubbed off on many students including those who weren’t considered “the most talented.” Jackson added, “Dance is my personal happy place, for children it’s not about talent, it’s how does this make you feel.”
Alongside passion and enthusiasm, Jackson wanted to ensure every student involved was caught up when it came to the educational piece. The viral Jackie Robinson portion of the show came with more than choreography. Jackson added, “We had to study first, so when they were dancing they knew the history behind it.”
For some of the younger students, they had never heard of Jackie Robinson. “Before we started any steps, the boys had to know their what, their why, and their how. I had to plant something in them so it would give them a reason to present the dance the way they did.”
When students felt tired and discouraged, Jackson inspired students by getting them to connect with the artist. Another viral portion of the show was the opening, which was a tribute to Luther Vandross, using his song “Bad Boy”, a song where Vandross talks about going to a party. She said, “I wanted them to feel it, when they felt like it was them, that he’s trying to see, their confidence lifted and that’s where all of their energy came in.”
For Jackson her energy to produce this show came from the loss of her brother, earlier in the year who had mentioned before passing that he wanted to nominate her for a teacher of the year award. Telling her, “People need to know who you are.” Jackson never knew that her upcoming show would do just that, bringing her the flowers and attention she deserved. Through this process, she described that the loss pushed her to pour everything into this production.
“I was very sad and I had to find a place of joy, I had to put my passion into action” she said. Adding “The rehearsals were where I could put my energy and forget about the grief, so I worked really hard, I poured all of my blood sweat, and tears into this show, doing more than I usually do, because I was escaping my grief.”
For Jackson, she never intended to go viral but believes that her brother’s wish came true once the “show popped.” Mentioning, “I don’t have the official teacher of the year award, but look what has happened! My brother got what he wanted.”
Adding to the sentiments she also shared that the Jackie Robinson clip that initially went viral touched her because her brother was a vivid baseball fan. “The person who posted it, her child isn’t even in the baseball dance, but that was the clip that everybody saw. I don’t know if he had anything to do with it, but it brings me comfort to think that he got what he wanted and never had to write that letter.”
Through pain and passion, Jackson hopes that the seeds she’s planted and watered in her students grow into something greater in the future. Saying, “Whether you are on the screens or behind the scenes there is a place for students to see themselves, it all starts from somewhere. I just want those seeds planted so wherever they carry them, in whatever career, I want them to know that they can [do it].” As the world celebrates the students and the show, Jackson encourages all students to celebrate who they are and where they came from through performing arts.
