Black History Month: Slavery, blackface, even Lil Wayne in high school show

A twin brother and sister duo put on a show forMontreal high school students to prompt them to reconsider their beliefs about race and what they think they know about black history.

Actor Omari Newton, of Blue Mountain State, and his sister AkilahNewton, founder of the non-profit organization Overture with the Arts, say when they attended BeaconsfieldHigh School in the 90s, there was little focus on black history.

"I learned black history from Public Enemy and ATribe Called Quest, but in school I felt there was a lack," says Omari Newton.

Blackfacerooted inslavery

Newton spoke to students about the practice of blackface, rooted in slavery and minstrel shows that featured white actors with black-painted faces mocking black people.

He says it's a particularly important subject to cover in Quebec, where groups continue to speak out against the practice.

• Ban blackface in Quebec, online petition pleads

"People don't know the history of blackface, and if you look at somethingout of context [you]might not understand why it's so painful for certain people," he said.

Kendrick Lamar to Lil Wayne

Newton's presentation walkedstudents through the brutal realities of slavery to the emergence of spokenwordand hip hop. The presentation also touched on modern cultural appropriation and onblack artists who Newton says play into overblownstereotypes.

"A dope beat is a dope beat, but there's a difference between what Kendrick Lamar did at the Grammys and what Lil Wayne is doing throwing money off a table, and I think they should know that," he said.

• Watch: KendrickLamar'sperformance at theGrammys

Students inspired

Grade 11students Harrison Kirshner and Nikki Murray saidthey hadn't heard about the practice of blackface.

"I never really knew about that before, and I think it's a disgrace," saidMurray.

Kirshner says the presentation left him inspired him to work on fighting injustice.

"It's important to realize that we have come a long way, but our journey is not over and it's up to our generation to ensure equality of all races," he said.