Hartford School Crowned 2026 African American History Bee Champions
- Mar 2
- 2 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
By Camilo M. Benitez
Hartford, February 22, 2026
McDonough Middle School students cheerfully took the trophy home after an afternoon of fervent competition and trivia and participating eighth graders from Hartford waiting in anticipation for the final call that would crown the winners.
Four Hartford-area schools participated in a spirited trivia challenge at the fifth annual African and African American History Bee hosted by the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History. Among the participating schools were McDonough Middle School, Thirman L. Milner Middle School, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School, and Achievement First Middle School.
The African and African American History Bee has been a community tradition organized by Calling All Brothers, a Hartford-based grassroots initiative that works to uplift and celebrate young men of color. Founded by the Rev. AJ Johnson in 2015, 'Calling All Brothers' is considered a long-standing pillar within the community, encouraging children of all ages to pursue their best interests in education, identity, and history, according to a community who was present at the event.
The event picked up quite a bit of traction this year, with notable figures such as state Sen. Douglas McCrory, Metropolitan District Commissioner Kyle Anderson, and Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam making appearances in support of the community. Emmy-nominated Television Journalist Leslie Mayes Low was an esteemed guest at the event, hosting the program in partnership with the History Bee.
The result was a Jeopardy-style educational game, designed to highlight Black liberation, intellect, and excellence. “There is such an intentional effort to erase the history,” stated Mayor Arulampalam in an interview with Reporting Hartford. “Black history is so important for this generation, for the next generation…This is such an important event.”
The challenge was split between three rounds, each increasing in difficulty. The last round took the form of a Final Jeopardy, where students could wager points on their answers. Depending on who answers correctly, students could either win everything, or nothing at all. McDonough Middle School pulled through to the end, dethroning the Achievement First Middle School that had previously held the title.
13-year-old Jayvian Figueroa from the winning team said, “I feel good. I got to represent my school. It was a blessing competing here with these kids…It’s always important to honor the history.”
Upon the event’s close, Rev. Johnson extended his gratitude to the families and community members for their outstanding support. When asked what advice he would offer to the youth of Hartford, especially those who may be struggling in these worrisome times, he said, "Do the research of where you come from and who you are. Our culture, Black American history, has been riddled with struggles and success. We’ve never been met with a struggle that we could not succeed."
He also offered his insight as the founder of 'Calling All Brothers', articulating the importance of investing in the young men of Hartford as well as the beauty of watching them succeed, not only in education but also in building the confidence to go farther and to push harder in a world that is pitted against them.
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