Search

This Black History Month, we’re encouraging educators to celebrate the history of Black achievement, joy and creativity. This week, to support that work, we’ll be sharing resources for exploring the rich tradition of African American literature with students in your classroom.

This Black History Month, we’re encouraging educators to recognize and teach that Black history includes narratives that don’t focus solely on trauma. While it’s imperative to teach about the realities of racial oppression, it’s just as important to engage students with the many ways Black people have consistently and powerfully resisted white supremacy. For the next week, we’ll be sharing some of our favorite resources for celebrating Black liberation movements.

Black history is American history—and it should be taught year round. But Black History Month offers a great opportunity to focus attention on the history and contributions of African Americans. This edition of The Moment features a few of our favorite black history resources: the text "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" (the "Black National Anthem"), our new materials on effectively teaching about American slavery and our article about one teacher’s commitment to “mining the jewel" of February each year.

The official theme of Black History Month 2020 is “African Americans and the Vote.” Black changemakers and activists have been fighting for equal rights since before our nation began. This week, we’ll be sharing resources on the history of Black civic engagement and the continuing fight for full equality under the law.

Racial oppression plays a significant part in American history, and it’s critical our students learn about it. But this February, we're encouraging educators to reflect on their own practice and ensure that the Black history they’re teaching—this month and year-round—isn’t limited to narratives of trauma. To support that learning, this week we’ll be sharing some of our favorite resources for celebrating the diversity of Black history, identity and experience.

In celebration of Black History Month, we offer a new resource page. From articles and publications to videos, lessons and stories, we’ve collected some of our best resources to help you learn about and elevate Black history in all of its complexity. Whether you’re building your own knowledge, looking for ways to expand your teaching of Black history, or celebrating stories with your family, we hope you’ll use these resources. Young people deserve to learn this history in ways that are accurate, comprehensive and age appropriate.