2021 Theme: Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity

The black family has been a topic of study in many disciplines—history, literature, the visual arts and film studies, sociology, anthropology, and social policy. Its representation, identity, and diversity have been reverenced, stereotyped, and vilified from the days of slavery to our own time. The black family knows no single location, since family reunions and genetic-ancestry searches testify to the spread of family members across states, nations, and continents. Not only are individual black families diasporic, but Africa and the diaspora itself have been long portrayed as the black family at large. While the role of the black family has been described by some as a microcosm of the entire race, its complexity as the “foundation” of African American life and history can be seen in numerous debates over how to represent its meaning and typicality from a historical perspective—as slave or free, as patriarchal or matriarchal/matrifocal, as single-headed or dual-headed household, as extended or nuclear, as fictive kin or blood lineage, as legal or common law, and as black or interracial, etc. Variation appears, as well, in discussions on the nature and impact of parenting, childhood, marriage, gender norms, sexuality, and incarceration. The family offers a rich tapestry of images for exploring the African American past and present.

Message from Madison County School District: Parents, At this time all schools are following our Tornado procedures and sheltering in place. Instruction will resume once the threat has passed.

Parents & Students: 

Due to the rising cases and concerns of COVID-19 as we approach the holiday break and operating under the Department of Education’s guidance of Grace and Compassion, the remaining two days of school, December 17 and December 18, will be optional.  Any student who does not attend any or all of the next two school days will have their absence(s) excused.  We look forward to a healthy start of the new year on January 5, 2021. 

Please contact your school if you have any questions. 

Shirley Joseph 

Superintendent