Black History Month Resources

 

It is the goal of this blog to identify great resources for teachers planning activities and lessons. This month Columbia High School is commemorating Black History Month with several events planned by our incredible MAC scholars. For those looking for lesson planning inspiration, we have also identified some great resources below and we have more in our archived posts from earlier this year. 

This year's Black History Month 2021 theme is “Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity” which explores the African diaspora, and the spread of Black families across the United States.

1. National Endowment for the Humanities' EDsitement website. One of my favorite NEH programs is called CREATED EQUAL. According to the website, "The NEH Created Equal project uses the power of documentary films to encourage public conversations about the changing meanings of freedom and equality in America. The five films that are part of this project tell the remarkable stories of individuals who challenged the social and legal status quo, from slavery to segregation." Here are links to the films: The Abolitionists; Slavery By Another Name; Freedom Riders; The Loving Story; and Freedom Summer.

2. The Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History & Culture. 

3. BlackPast.Org

4. Black History 101 Mobile Museum

5. PBS. The link connects to the offerings for this year. I recommend the Fannie Lou Hamer: Stand Up mini-doc. 

6. New York Times. There is a great essay on BHM this year replete with suggestions and resources. 

7. CSPAN Classroom Great for short clips they call bell-ringers. 

8. History Channel BHM 2021

Finally, Learning for Justice (formerly Teaching Tolerance) is always one of the best sites to go to for lessons. Below the picture are four timely articles on how to teach Black History Month. 

Five Ways to Avoid Whitewashing the Civil Rights Movement

During Black History Month, educators may fall into the habit of passing on civil rights history that’s been whitewashed—from diluted accounts of civil rights actions to the omission of key events and figures. Going beyond feel-good narratives and examining context helps students learn a fuller and more accurate account of black history, including the often-oversimplified history of the civil rights movement. Here’s how to do it.

Do’s and Don’ts of Teaching Black History  Students deserve to get the most out of black history and Black History Month. We’ve compiled a list of suggestions for how to make that happen—including making sure to connect issues in the past with current issues and not focusing on cultural traits based on stereotypes. Check out the full list of do’s and don’ts here.

Black History Month: Teaching Beyond Slavery We know that black history didn’t begin or end with slavery. Yet the arrival of the first Africans in the colonies is the first most students learn of black history. Teach the full range of black humanity and experiences year-round. Look for opportunities across all areas of curricula, including math, science, social studies and English language arts. Read more about how you can take a comprehensive approach to history. Black LGBTQ History: We Must Do a Better Job It is vital that during Black History Month—and the rest of the year—educators ensure their curricula do not present a narrow, monolithic narrative about black history. One way to take a more intersectional approach is to teach about black LGBTQ people’s lived experiences, stories and contributions to our nation. Here's how.