3 Ways to Honor Black History Month in Your Classroom (2024)
How We Got Here
Black History Month (BHM) is a federally recognized, national commemoration of the contributions of people of the African Diaspora. This celebration originated in 1926 byhistorian and educator Carter G. Woodson, the first person born to enslaved parents to graduate from Harvard University. While BHM began as a week-long celebration, it was expanded to the full month of February in 1976 by President Gerald Ford.
Woodson chose February to honor the birthdays of prolific writer, orator, and abolitionist Frederick Douglass (whose exact birthday is unknown), and President Abraham Lincoln, who signed the Emancipation Proclamation that abolished slavery in the confederate states.
Here are three way to promote awareness, equity, and social change related to BHM:
Acknowledge it: Utilize the opportunity to celebrate this federally recognized monthwith your students and colleagues to honor the legacy and contemporary achievements of people of the African Diaspora! Even if BHM has not previously been celebrated in your school, galvanize others around starting a new tradition!
Celebrate: Highlight achievements and contributions, including pre-colonial history and profiles of contemporary figures your students will recognize from politics, education, pop culture, sports, or other areas. While historicizing is important, avoid focusing solely on slavery and Jim Crow. This may be isolating for African American/Black students, particularly in environments where they are the racial minority.
Get Creative:Have fun! This is an ideal time to conceptualize out-of-the box activities and lessons to enhance engagement! Students and colleagueswill appreciate the intellectual energy spent on cultural awareness.
Stay tuned for my next blog post in this two-part series that will provide three tips on what to avoid when honoring BHM.
Dr. Sierra Austin is a graduate of theDepartment of Women's and Gender Studies at The Ohio State University, with a focus on race and social justice. Sierra's research (done in our member districtColumbus City Schools), activism, work focused on education equity and prioritizes operationalizing intersectional approaches to social change. She offers professional development through the ESC focused on equity, consultation, and community workshops.
Celebrate: Highlight achievements and contributions, including pre-colonial history and profiles of contemporary figures your students will recognize from politics, education, pop culture, sports, or other areas. While historicizing is important, avoid focusing solely on slavery and Jim Crow.
Black History Month was created to focus attention on the contributions of African Americans to the United States. It honors all Black people from all periods of U.S. history, from the enslaved people first brought over from Africa in the early 17th century to African Americans living in the United States today.
Trailblazing creatives like Gordon Parks and Don Cornelius. Social justice fighters such as Bayard Rustin and Dorothy Height. Influential politicians and publishers including Shirley Chisholm and Robert Sengstacke Abbott. African American History Month icons like Ruby Bridges and Claudette Colvin.
It means respecting and appreciating those who built and continue to make the City and County of Durham great. -Megan. Black History Month is a time to celebrate and honor the contributions and sacrifices of African Americans of the past and present.
Shy away from controversial, ambiguous, or unresolved issues.Share the real-life experiences about racial realities in developmentally appropriate ways. Think that you can't talk about black history because you're a white educator. You do not need to be a person of color to talk about race.
Remember–Black History is more than just hardship! Talk about the amazing contributions they have made to society as a whole. A great place to start is to teach your kids about the impact of Black music, Black scientists and inventors, activists, and any other important cultural contributions.
Students will discuss each man's vision for achieving equal rights for Black Americans. Students will draw connections between the readings and their lives to determine which strategies they might choose to create positive change in their own communities.
Introduction: My name is Twana Towne Ret, I am a famous, talented, joyous, perfect, powerful, inquisitive, lovely person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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