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With Black History Month upon us, many parents — after a particularly tumultuous 2020 — find themselves looking for better ways to recognize the month. In years past, it may have been enough to teach our kids about Martin Luther King, Jr. or explain how Harriet Tubman helped lead enslaved Africans to freedom.
In 2021, Black History Month means so much more. Last year, society as a whole became a bit more aware of what Black parents have been saying all along; racism is alive and well. We asked several parents why Black History Month is important and what they think parents need to know.
What is Black History Month?
Author and historian Carter G. Woodson recognized that the contributions and achievements of African-Americans went largely unrecorded or addressed. In 1915 Woodson and his colleague, Jesse E. Moorland, wanted to be sure that credit was given to the notable African-Americans and those of African descent who contributed to the betterment of society. Initially, the pair chose Frederick Douglass' birthday as the day to recognize the achievements of African-Americans.
Ultimately, the month of February became known as Black History Month which was officially recognized as a month of observation by President Gerald Ford in 1976.
What Black parents want you to know about Black History Month
If you're wondering why exactly Black History Month is important, it's because people are starting to see that what they've learned all these years in their history textbooks is just a skewed version of the truth.
In homeschool groups across Facebook, the "good resources for Black History Month" question always comes up this time of year. Well-meaning parents will suggest books and movies they enjoyed. All too often, the resources have a white-savior component to them. Think Blindside and The Help. It's often these same well-meaning parents that will shoot-down constructive criticism pointing out the problems with these types of films. If parents wish to approach Black History Month respectfully and correctly, it is imperative that they listen to Black parents.
Anitra Allen is a mom of three. Her daughter aspires to be an actress, but as a mom, Allen is at odds with many of the stories Hollywood chooses to amplify. In a blog post titled, I Can't Celebrate with Taraji: A Black Stage Mom's Dilemma, Allen talks about this struggle.
"Of the examples of 'extraordinary performances' by women of color I have to share with my star-gazed tween actress are a Mammy, a murderer’s wife, a shyster, a mother who molests her daughter, the help, a slave, a manipulative and sexually indiscriminate power abuser, a prisoner and Cookie. Do you see my dilemma?" Allen wrote.
Allen told Mom.com that parents need to also remember, "Black History did not begin with slavery."
Cilas Kemedjio, director of the Frederick Douglass Institute at the University of Rochester, echoes this sentiment. "When you start with slavery, you’re actually starting with pain,” Kelmedjio said in an interview with NPR station WXXI. “And you’re starting as (if) the story of black people started with slavery."
Travel enthusiast and content creator, Roni Faida, told Mom.com, "I want people to expand their social circles and start seeing Black History as American history. I want people to stop solely talking about how hard we had to and still have to fight for basics but talk about the wonderful additions we've made to this country."
Faida also encourages parents to not limit Black History teachings to just one time a year. "I want people to know that Black history can't be relegated to one month. Almost everything we use in daily life was created by a Black man or woman," he told Mom.com.
Mom Rachel Pierre also implored parents to widen their knowledge and teachings. "There are so many contributions and improvements, discoveries, and rich history that are credited to African Americans, that everyone should study and know more than just the usual Black historical figures," she told Mom.com.
Resources for teaching Black History Month
If you're seeking resources for teaching Black History Month to your kids, the last year — and in particular the last several weeks — have given us a lot to work with. Modern Black leaders like Vice-President Kamala Harris and poet Amanda Gorman made history this year.
Now may good time to delve into poetry with your kids. Thanks to Gorman, the National Youth Poet Laureate, the written word has been on the forefront of everyone's mind since the 2021 Inauguration of Joe Biden. Teachers Pay Teachers is an excellent site for inexpensive Black History Month teaching materials on poets. You'll find resources for Phillis Wheatley, Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, and countless others.
Consider spending time with your kids learning about Black inventors and their contributions. These Black History Month study cards are a great way to learn about notable Black people throughout history. Incorporate the historical facts with Black History Month crafts for younger children. For example, the three-way traffic light was invented by Garret Morgan. Help young kids remember his name by adding in a fun, hands-on activity like this traffic light craft from the blog, Housing a Forest.
For those who wish to dig a bit further, incorporating history before the trans-Atlantic slave trade, Homeschool Den offers a variety of lessons on Africa, its culture, history, and people that would be of interest to children of all ages.
