Every February, a staple at FM High School is the Black History Month assembly. This assembly is organized and put on by Fayetteville Manlius high schoolers and focuses on honoring Black American heritage and showcasing aspects of the various cultures. The assembly took place on February 7th, a snow day pushing it a day later than scheduled, and celebrated the rich cultural heritage and contributions of Black Americans.

Featuring several dances, step team, poem readings, and more, this year’s assembly was dynamic and engaging. It also highlighted the Black community living in Syracuse with a video presentation about the Dunbar Center, a core part of Syracuse since the 1930’s.  The mission of the Dunbar Association is to “break the cycle of generational poverty, and develop racial equality in our community,” as well as acting as a location for social events like dances, youth groups, meetings and weddings. The heartwarming video shown at the assembly featured FM students visiting the center and interacting with people of all ages in the community. Additionally, the center’s Executive Director, Andre Harper, was kind enough to attend and speak at the assembly after receiving flowers in thanks from the BHM participants.

In addition to the performances, the assembly featured art works by various Black artists. The song, poetry, and art selection helped to exhibit the diverse contributions of Black American artists to the world of art and culture.

With amazing energy and participation of the student body, especially among the seniors, the assembly showcased talented performers and innovative performances. Overall, the 2025 BHM assembly at Fayetteville-Manlius High School was a resounding success, fostering a sense of unity and appreciation for Black history among students and staff alike.