February 2021: Honoring Black Agency & Black Joy

Black history is central to all of American history, and should be part of a robust teaching curriculum year-round. Alongside the lessons of Black history, it’s also critical to honor the resilience, creativity, and vitality of Black people in the face of inequity and violence, past and present. That’s why, this year, we’re celebrating Black History Month by honoring the themes of Black Agency & Black Joy.

Goin' Back to T-Town | American Experience | PBS

Goin' Back to T-Town: Revisit a thriving Black community in Tulsa, which rebuilt after a 1921 racially-motivated massacre.

Why We Need Black History Month—Especially This Year

Black History Month begins February 1! And while we know anti-racist educators teach Black history year-round, we hope these resources will help you consider how you're framing the month this particular year. Learn more about the need for—and history behind—Black History Month and get support for teaching Black history in a way that moves beyond trauma and embraces liberation and resistance.

Black History & Culture activities for Grades 3-5

February is Black History Month! Celebrate the history and culture of the African diaspora and the achievements of people with African roots with these activities, videos and resources.

Highlighting Unsung Heroes in African American History : Studies Weekly

Rosa Parks, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and the Power of Non-Violent Mass Protest

The Montgomery Bus Boycott was successful because of the many unsung heroes, mostly women, who walked instead of riding the bus.

The Secret Lives of Objects: Letter From a Birmingham Jail

Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963 was one of the key turning points for the Civil Rights Movement, and prompted King's powerful "Letter from a Birmingham Jail."

Charlotta Spears Bass | Unladylike2020 | PBS LearningMedia

Learn about Charlotta Spears Bass, a crusading newspaper editor and politician who was one of the first African American women to own and operate a newspaper in the United States, in In this video from the Unladylike2020 series. She published the California Eagle in Los Angeles from 1912 until 1951, at a time when newsrooms were male-dominated and few white journalists focused on issues of importance to African Americans. In the paper’s pages, she addressed racism, police brutality, and restrictive housing policies. Later in her career, Bass entered politics and was the first African American woman to run for Vice President of the United States in 1952. Support materials include discussion questions, primary source analysis, research project ideas, and the New York Times Magazine “1619 Project” created by Nikole Hannah-Jones.

NOVA: Percy Julian: Forgotten Genius | Getting an Education | PBS LearningMedia

Learn about the education of chemist Percy Julian. Julian's early educational years paralleled an educational movement that prepared African Americans for industrial jobs, the growing white supremacist movement, and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan. Julian would eventually move north, and finally to Europe to earn his Ph.D. Explore more about this topic, from the NOVA program Percy Julian: Forgotten Genius. This video is available in both English and Spanish audio, along with corresponding closed captions.

Sissieretta Jones | Unladylike2020 | PBS LearningMedia

Sissieretta Jones was heralded as one of the greatest singers of her generation and a pioneer in the operatic tradition at a time when access to most classical concert halls in the U.S. were closed to Black performers and patrons. Learn more about this trailblazing classical performer in this video from Unladylike2020. Support materials include discussion questions, vocabulary, research extension tips, and a newspaper analysis activity.

Resources for Black History Month — Pear Deck

February is Black History Month, and we’ve assembled some ready-to-teach lessons to help your class celebrate the contributions of the Black community. Follow the links below to preview the Decks and make your own copies!