Black History Month

“Philosophers have long conceded, however, that every man has two educators: 'that which is given to him, and the other that which he gives himself. Of the two kinds the latter is by far the more desirable. Indeed all that is most worthy in man he must work out and conquer for himself. It is that which constitutes our real and best nourishment. What we are merely taught seldom nourishes the mind like that which we teach ourselves.”

Carter G. Woodson 1933 founder of Black History Week to celebrate Black history, achievement, joy, and love

Black History Month was meant to be a celebration of Black history, not a beginning point. There is a lot to learn and dive into, too much from one month, which is why it is imperative to use Black History Month as a celebratory event, reflective of a year’s study. Now, more than ever, our students need curriculum and instructional choices from teachers who are culturally responsive and signal that Black Lives Matter every day. It is also a time to share what our students have learned through conversations at home and to use their lived experiences as counter narratives juxtaposed to historical and contemporary events. Our resources, pulled together from multiple sources, reflect the notion that students, teachers, and the community are able to read and contribute to their own story of the world. We do not know your classroom relationship and rhythms, but are here to help transform these resources into a culturally responsive curriculum. Consider how Dr. LaGarrett King’s Black Historical Principles can transform your curriculum and instructional choices by providing a lens through which to teach through Black histories and not about Black history. If you are interested in building space for your students to share their voices, consider using the Mikva Challenge' Project Soapbox curriculum (contact us for more information) to celebrate Black history. 

Please be sure to build in space for students to share their knowledge, skills, and experiences. Proceed “Safely in and Safely out” of conversations, prepare yourself and students for strong emotions by reflecting on appropriate responses, as well as building a classroom contract that helps establish co-constructed norms for the classroom. Inquiry based learning provides a process wherein learners surface and deliberate questions, beliefs, perspectives, evidence and conclusions, but do so in a way that allow ideas to be challenged without attacking anyone’s identity or belief system As always, please preview all resources, use the ARE tool to help vet, and determine what is appropriate for your students. Consult our Best Practices/Avoidances document to reflect on how questions, sources, and tasks promote best practices while avoiding trivial activities, having students role play, overly simplified narratives, and curriculum violence. 

While this will be a permanent page, here is the original document that has all the links: JCPS Celebrates Black History!