Black History Month Teaching Ideas

Celebrating Black History Month

February is Black History Month.  The origins of this celebration of African American history and culture date back to 1915 when Dr. Carter Woodson and Reverend J. Moorlock established the Association for the Study of Negro History. The goal of this organization was to develop an awareness of the role that Blacks played in American history.  In 1926 the first Negro History Week was celebrated. In 1976 Black History Month was created. There are many web sites you can go to for creative ideas. Visit some of these listed below. Your  suggestions, as always , are welcome.

http://www.tuskegeeairmen.org/

http://www.biography.com/blackhistory/ (Excellent teacher information and resources

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm (audio and video of Dr. Martin Luther King’s “ I have a Dream” speech)

http://www.civilrightsmuseum.org/home.htm (National Civil Rights Museum)

There are museums of African American History in many US cities (New York, Philadelphia, Detroit and Boston). You can check their web site and find a treasure chest of great information, virtual field trips, and other resources for classroom teachers

http://www.afroammuseum.org/ (Boston)

http://www.freedomcenter.org/ (National Underground Railroad Freedom Center- Cincinnati, Ohio)

Books.

There are hundreds of books available that would be appropriate reading for all grade levels to celebrate Black History Month.

An outstanding book for very young children is Spotty. This book was originally created by Margaret and H.A. Rey (of Curious George fame) in 1945.  It tells the story of “Spotty” a bunny who is different from his peers and how he deals with the difference.  Great Illustrations.

One of my personal favorites and a good read for students interested in sports is Black Diamond- The Story of the Negro Baseball League by Patricia McKissack and Frederick McKissack( c.1994  Scholastic Press)

 Also for upper grade level students-

Slavery and the Making of America By James Oliver Horton and Lois E. Horton .c.2005 Oxford University Press.

Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama C.1995 Three Rivers Press

Walking with the Wind by John Lewis  c.1998. Harcourt Brace and Co

Ida Margolis is the 2004 recipient of the Mildred Barry Garvin Prize given by the New Jersey Historical Commission to that educator who has made a significant contribution to promote multicultural education in the classroom. In her acceptance speech Mrs. Margolis, a child of Holocaust survivors, said that Holocaust survivor and renowned author Elie Wiesel, wrote that he swore never “to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation,” and never again should anyone remain silent where there is injustice. Margolis said that “Never again is a phrase that bears repeating when we look back at the history of the Civil Right Movement in America.  Never again should a  15 year old like Melba Patillo and her eight classmates have to endure physical and verbal abuse as they valiantly tried to attend Little Rock Central High School in 1957. Never again should anyone be refused service at a lunch counter because of the color of their skin.  Never again should young men and women like the heroic John Lewis, now  a US Congressman have to be subjected to tear gas, attack dogs and night stick as they peacefully marched searching for the equality they should have had since 1776.”

Photo of Frederick Douglas ( Library of Congress)