The Fourth of July is a quintessentially American holiday, but the celebrated right to liberty has never applied to every American. These resources can help you consider how July 4th fits into the complex relationship between the United States and its citizens of color and how you can bring this history and an important message to your diverse classrooms: There is no template for Americanness, and there never should have been.
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.