This week, Black History Month will come to a close and Women's History Month will begin. Students notice when their history is recognized only during heritage months, so in this edition of The Moment, we're sharing a reminder that it’s vital to teach all our history year-round, along with resources to celebrate two trailblazing Black women in your classroom.
Students notice when Black history is taught only in February, but they deserve to learn this American history year-round. These resources emphasize engaging students' communities and lived experiences, including how you can incorporate local stories in lessons—and move Black history from the margins to your everyday curriculum.
To understand the complexities of the present, we must connect with the hard history of our country’s past. And we can learn about that honest history outside the classroom—in museums and field trips—because “No educator can accurately map out the whole landscape of our history alone. We are all stronger when we traverse the terrain together.”
Our students deserve an honest account of our nation’s history. That’s why we’re proud to share our new and expanded Teaching Hard History resources. They will help you tell a more complete story of American slavery that starts with Indigenous enslavement and includes students of all ages. To teach our students the truth about our shared hard history, we’ll need to start where the stories—and the learning—begin.
When it comes to investing in racial justice in education, we believe that the South is the best place to start. If you’re an educator, parent or caregiver, or community member living and working in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana or Mississippi, we’ll mail you a free introductory package of our resources when you join our community and subscribe to our magazine.