At Center for Racial Justice in Education, we believe that the histories, futures, stories, and voices of Black people should be centered, honored, and uplifted in school curricula every day. We also acknowledge the importance, relevance and origins of Black History Month. In 1926, Carter D. Woodson and the ASALH (Association for the Study of African American Life and History) launched “Negro History Week” to promote the studying of African American history as a discipline and to celebrate the accomplishments of African Americans. Today, we still see the absence of Black history and experience in our textbooks, required readings, STEM, and overall curriculum of our educational system.
As we enter February, the Center for Racial Justice in Education is providing resources to be used beyond the scope of this one-month. Unless Black history is taught throughout the year, it perpetuates an “othering” of Black Lives and Black students, and is also a manifestation of anti-Blackness. Ensuring the ongoing integration of Black history and experiences throughout all curriculum is imperative as educators continue to uplift every student and reinforce that Black lives matter everyday.
How Do We Celebrate Black History Month? Lesson Plans and Curriculum Resources for Educators:
- Black History Month resources for the Classroom -PBS
- Black History Month – Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility
- Creative Resources for Teachers Celebrating Black History Month -Education Week
- Putting the Movement Back into Civil Rights Teaching – A Resource Guide for Classrooms and Communities
- Discuss Black History All Year Long – Learning for Justice
- 50 Resources for Black History Month – KQED Education
- Black History Month – Library of Congress, et al.
- Black History Month Resources – Archives.gov
- National Endowment for the Humanities – African American History and Culture in the United States
- National Park Service – Black History Month
- Reading Resources – National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Black History Month Lessons & Resources – National Education Association
- Black History Month Resources – ReadingRockets.org
- 6 Teaching Tools for Black History Month – Edutopia
- 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
- Black Lives Matter in Schools Booklists – Social Justice Books
- 28 Days of Black History Month (newsletter) – Anti-Racism Daily
Do We Need Black History Month? The Underrepresentation and Miseducation of Black Stories, Experiences, and Histories in Schools:
- The History Behind Black History Month – Learning for Justice
- Five Things Not to Do During Black History Month – Zaretta Hammond
- Mining the Jewel of Black History Month – Emily Chiariello
- Black History Month Is Over. Now What? – Dena Simmons
- 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 – Learning for Justice
- ‘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
- Why we still need Black History Month in the US – Aljazeera
- 4 Reasons why it’s critical to teach black history – sheknows.com
- America Is Losing the Real Meaning of Black History Month – TIME
- We Teach Racism, Sexism and Discrimination in Schools – HuffPost
- Black History Month Has Ended. Here’s What Experts Think the Black Future Will Look Like – TIME
Why Teach Black Lives Matter in Schools? (Think Pieces):
- Why Teaching Black Lives Matter Matters | Part I – Learning for Justice
- Bringing Black Lives Matter Into the Classroom | Part II – Learning for Justice
- 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
- From MLK to #BlackLivesMatter: A Throughline for Young Students – Learning for Justice
- How to talk to young children about the Black Lives Matter Guiding Principles – Lalena Garcia
- A District Profile | Black Lives Matter at School – Learning for Justice
- How Black Lives Matter Is Changing What Students Learn During Black History Month – TIME
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
- The question of Blackness: How conversations about Bruno Mars and Cardi B miss the mark – Black Youth Project
- Uncovering Anti-Blackness in Casual Conversation: Young Hollywood’s Words to Amara La Negra – Latino Rebels
- The Black History of Latinos – Latino Rebels
- Afro-Latinas Embrace Their Heritage During Black History Month – NBC News
How Do We Center Black Women and Black Girls in Our Schools?
- Celebrate Women This Black History Month – Learning for Justice
- Don’t Forget About Black Girls – Learning for Justice
- The Black Girl Pushout – Melinda D. Anderson
- 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
- Rediscovering the Black Girl Magic in literature that was snuffed out of my childhood – Black Youth Project
- Say Her Name: What It Means to Center Black Women’s Experiences of Police Violence – Andrea J. Ritchie
How Do We Center Black LGBTQ Experiences?
- Supporting Black LGBTQ Students – GLSEN
- 100+ LGBTQ Black Women You Should Know: The Epic Black History Month – Marie Lynn Bernard
- 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 – Learning for Justice
- Black Gay History and the Fight Against AIDS – Dan Royles
- Redesigned pride flag recognizes LGBT people of color -CNN
- Growing Up Gay in Black America: An Exploration of the Coming Out Process of Queer African American Youth – DeMarquis Clarke
As a Parent, What Are Ways I Can Engage My Family in Black History Month?:
- 5 ways to celebrate Black History Month with your family – ChicagoNow.com
- 8 Black History Month Books and Resources for Kids – JusticeJonesie
- Top 15 children’s books for black history month – Family Education
- How to talk to your child about Black History Month (A script) – Mama Knows it All
- Black Children and Black History: The Importance Of Teaching Our Kids the Complexity Of Us – My Brown Baby