Black History Month Education
Black History Month Education: We at the Center for Racial Justice in Education believe that Black history, stories, and voices should be centered, honored, and elevated in school curricula every day. We also recognize the significance, relevance, and origins of Black History Month. Carter D. Woodson and the ASALH (Association for the Study of African American Life and History) established “Negro History Week” in 1926 to promote African American history as a discipline and to celebrate the achievements of African Americans. Black history and experience are still lacking in our textbooks, required readings, STEM, and overall curriculum of our educational system. We are now entering February, which means Border Crossers will be providing resources that can be used beyond this month. Unless Black history is taught throughout the year, it perpetuates an “othering” of Black Lives and Black students, and is a manifestation of anti-blackness. Education must continue to uplift every student and reinforce that Black Lives Matter every day by integrating Black history and experiences into all curriculum.
As we celebrate and commemorate Black History Month, it is important to involve students in activities that encourage them to think broadly and critically about the Black experience in all of its complexity. History, point of view, politics, struggle, first-person experience, art, literature and data should be incorporated into the curriculum. Here are ten suggestions for incorporating Black History Month into the curriculum.
All people, regardless of race or place, deserve the same rights and freedoms. For too long, Black and brown people in America have been denied equality because of the color of their skin. To help students understand the reality of Black people’s experiences in American history, their impact on American culture, and to celebrate their achievements, we’ve compiled a selection of lesson plans that cover a variety subjects and that can be adapted to fit multiple grade levels.
How Do We Celebrate Black History Month? Teaching Black History Month in Schools:
- The History Behind Black History Month – Teaching Tolerance
- Do’s and Don’ts of Teaching Black History – Teaching Tolerance
- Five Things Not to Do During Black History Month – Zaretta Hammond
- Mining the Jewel of Black History Month – Emily Chiariello
- Four Black History Month Must-Haves – Zaretta Hammond
- Black History Month Is Over. Now What? – Dena Simmons
What Can We Do In Our Classrooms? Lesson Plans and Curriculum Resources for Educators:
- 50 Resources for Black History Month – KQED Education
- Black History Month resources for teachers – WeTeachNYC
- Black History Month Lessons & Resources – National Education Association
- Black History Teaching Resources – Smithsonian Education
- What Counts as History? – Teaching Tolerance
- Black History Month Resources – ReadingRockets.org
- 6 Teaching Tools for Black History Month – Edutopia
Do We Need Black History Month? The Underrepresentation and Miseducation of Black Stories, Experiences, and Histories in Schools:
- It’s Black History Month. Look in the Mirror. – The NY Times
- Black History Month Isn’t Racist, It’s a Form of Reparations – Jenn M. Jackson
- Teaching Hard History – Teaching Tolerance
- ‘Black Season’ at My White Middle School – Baratunde Thurston
- Black history is bigger than slavery. We should teach kids accordingly – The Guardian
- What Kids Are Really Learning About Slavery – Melinda D. Anderson
What Are Ways To Bring Black Lives Matter Into The Classroom? (Curriculum Resources):
- Black Lives Matter in Schools Resources – D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice
- Black Lives Matter in Education-Week of Action Getting Started Packet – Black Lives Matter in NYC Schools
- Black Lives Matter at School-Resources – Ed Justice
- Resources for Educators: Elementary and Early Childhood – Teaching for Change
- Classroom Flyers, Posters, and Visuals – BLM Educators Group
- Resources for Educators: Middle and High School – Teaching for Change
- BLM National Curriculum Folder – NyCoRE
Why Teach Black Lives Matter in Schools? (Think Pieces):
- Why Teaching Black Lives Matter Matters | Part I – Teaching Tolerance
- Bringing Black Lives Matter Into the Classroom | Part II – Teaching Tolerance
- Making Black Lives Matter in Our Schools – Rethinking Schools
- How One Elementary School Sparked A Citywide Movement To Make Black Students Lives Matter – Rethinking Schools
- Teaching #BlackLivesMatter – Teaching for Change
- Black Students’ Lives Matter – Rethinking Schools
Where Are Afro-Latinos Represented in School Curricula?
- Diaspora Blackness in the Caribbean: A Radical Resource – Medium
- Afro-Latino: A deeply rooted identity among U.S. Hispanics – Pew Research Center
- Anti-Blackness in Latinx Countries is the Result of Deliberate Cultural Policy – Racebaitr
- Let’s talk about phenotype and global Blackness – Black Youth Project
- This Is What It Means To Be Afro-Latino – HuffPost
- Black history month is a token tribute, but Afro-Latinos don’t even have that – The Guardian
- A Look at Who Gets Left Out of Black History Month – Alternet
How Do We Center Black Women and Black Girls in Our Schools?
- Celebrate Women This Black History Month – Teaching Tolerance
- Black Womanhood: The Syllabus – Julieta Salgado
- Don’t Forget About Black Girls – Teaching Tolerance
- The Black Girl Pushout – Melinda D. Anderson
- Centering Black Girls’ Literacies: A Review of Literature on the Multiple Ways of Knowing of Black Girls – Gholnecsar E. Muhammad and Marcelle Haddix
- The Biased Policies That Are Pushing Black Girls Out of School – Dayna Evans
- Black Girls Matter: Pushed Out, OverPoliced, and Underprotected – Kimberle Crenshaw with Priscilla Ocen and Jyoti Nanda
- From Preschool to Prison: The Criminalization of Black Girls – Mackenzie Chakara
- Getting Black Trans Women’s Needs Met: An Interview With Phoebe VanCleefe – Huff Post
- #SAYHERNAME: Towards a Gender Inclusive Movement for Black Lives – Brittney Cooper
- Murders of trans women highlight the intersection of racial and gender-based violence – Women’s Media Center
- Centering Black Women, Girls, Gender Nonconforming People, and Fem(me)’s in Campaigns for Expanded Sanctuary and Freedom Cities – Andrea J. Ritchie and Monique W. Morris, Ed.D
How Do We Center Black LGBTQ Experiences?
- 100+ LGBTQ Black Women You Should Know: The Epic Black History Month – Marie Lynn Bernard
- Supporting Black LGBTQ Students – GLSEN
- Trans Women of Color Collective: Shifting the Narrative – Trans Women of Color Collective
- What it’s like being Black and queer in school – Shantal Otchere
- Black LGBTQ History: Teachers Must Do a Better Job – Teaching Tolerance
- Blackedout History Celebrating Black LGBTQ History Month – GSA Network
- Navigating Community Institutions: Black Transgender Women’s Experiences in Schools, the Criminal Justice System, and Churches – Louis F Graham, et al.
- Why I’m Nonbinary but Don’t Use ‘They/Them” – Ashleigh Shackelford
- GLAAD celebrates black LGBT icons throughout Black History Month – Alexandra Bolles
- A Dedication To Kerrice Lewis & All The Black Queer Bodies Sacrificed… – Evolve Benton
- Black Gay History and the Fight Against AIDS – Dan Royles
As a Parent, What Are Ways I Can Engage My Family in Black History Month?:
- 45 Books to Teach Children About Black History – The Culture
- African American History Month Resources for Parents – Adlit.org
- Learning More About Black History for Parents and Families – NYC Dept. of Education
- 5 ways to celebrate Black History Month with your family – ChicagoNow.com
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