The historic leaders celebrated during Black History Month serve as inspiration to students and educators alike, standing as icons of odds-conquering achievement, in their efforts to make their communities – and the planet – a better place. As part of Envision’s mission to empower students to positively impact the world around them, we encourage you to celebrate Black History Month with us, and offer the following interesting factoids and resources.
How do your students commemorate Black History Month? How do you motivate and inspire the budding leaders within your student body? Share in our Comments section, and you could win $50 in classroom supplies. See details below.
Hallowed Grounds
The theme for Black History Month 2016 is Hallowed Grounds: Sites of African-American Memories. The Association for the Study of African American Life & History (ASALH) tells us, “From port cities where Africans disembarked from slave ships to the battle fields where their descendants fought for freedom… the imprint of Americans of African descent is deeply embedded in the narrative of the American past. These sites prompt us to remember.”
“Hallowed grounds” sites include:
- Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church
- The Kingsley Plantation
- Frederick Douglass’ home
- Numerous stops along the Underground Railroad
- The home of Dr. Carter G. Woodson
The Father of Black History Month
Dr. Carter G. Woodson, born in 1875 to former slaves, received his Ph.D. from Harvard University and went on to become an author, editor and publisher. His best known publication is The Mis-Education of the Negro, originally published in 1933, and still relevant today. In 1915, he and friends established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, and in 1926, he launched the annual February observance of Negro History Week. The observance evolved into Black History Month in 1976.
Sites of the Underground Railroad
The ASALH selected the Hallowed Grounds theme to bring attention to the centennial celebration of the National Park Service and the sites along the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom that the NPS works to preserve. If you study the Underground Railroad in your class, you’ll find the PBS list of Railroad “stations” to be a useful resource, with information on many historic sites, including:
Dr. Nathan Thomas House – Built in 1835 in Schoolcraft, MI, this site was the home of Pamela Brown Thomas, one of Michigan's most active Underground Railroad participants, as well as Kalamazoo County's first physician.
Hubbard House and Museum – The museum at the Hubbard House is the only Ohio terminus open to the public, although the local area was very active in the freedom effort, with more than thirty Underground Railroad stations.
Harriet Tubman Home for the Aged – This site honors this famous black abolitionist, who made 13 rescue missions for approximately 70 enslaved family and friends, using the Railroad network. Ms. Tubman was also a spy for the Union and an active participant in the women's suffrage movement.
Interesting Facts from the History Channel
Did you know that…
- George Washington Carver derived nearly 300 products from peanuts?
- Madam C.J. Walker, who invented a line of African-American hair care products, was America’s first female millionaire?
- Hattie McDaniel was the first black actor to win an Academy Award (for Gone with the Wind)?
The History Channel brings us these and other fascinating facts about black history, such as:
- Springing from the racial violence of the early 1900’s, the NAACP is now more than 100 years old. The African-American leaders who founded this civil rights organization chose February 12, 1909 as the official start date, honoring the centennial anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth.
- Hiram Rhodes Revels was the first black U.S. Senator, representing Mississippi from 1870-1871.
- Thurgood Marshall was the first African-American ever appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, serving from 1967-1991.
- Shirley Chisholm was the first black woman elected to the House of Representatives, as well as the first female candidate for president.
- Astronaut, engineer and doctor Mae Jemison was the first African-American woman in space. She has also been a keynote speaker at Envision’s (NYLF): Explore STEM!
There’s a Shoe for That!
Looking to break up the history lesson with a fun fact from 2016? Your students may be interested to hear that athletic shoe manufacturer Adidas is celebrating the event with a Black History Month footwear collection, inspired by one of the most famous track and field athletes of all time: Jesse Owens. In college in 1935, Owens broke three world records and tied a fourth – all in one day! He became a symbol for social justice and equality at the 1936 Olympic summer games in Berlin, where he won four gold medals, wearing shoes hand-crafted by Adidas founder Adi Dassler. You and your class can view the entire collection here.
Additional Resources
- Enchanted Learning.com provides brief biographies of famous African-Americans, such as Crispus Attucks, James Baldwin, Frederick Douglass and Scott Joplin, to name a few.
Win $50 in Our Black History Month Promotion!
What activities and resources engage and inspire your students during Black History Month? We’d love to hear from you, in our Comments section. Tell us how your class commemorates the occasion, and you will automatically be entered to win a $50 donation through Adopt-A-Classroom.org, to use toward classroom supplies and teaching tools. Two winners will be chosen at random and announced on February 19, 2016. Share your ideas today!
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