News

The origins of Black History Month reach back to September of 1915 when Carter G. Woodson and Jesse E. Moreland founded an organization committed to increasing awareness about the achievements of Black Americans. Because the United States was founded by white Europeans, our recorded history has predominately been written and taught from that perspective. This organization was dedicated to shining a light on the significant role Black Americans played in the creation of our nation. By 1926, the group had dedicated the second week in February as a time to celebrate the contributions of Black Americans and Black History. February was chosen because it is the birth month for Fredrick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln. This annual celebration gained momentum and spread across the country. However, it took five decades for the movement to reach a national level. In 1976, Black History Month was proclaimed a national heritage month. For many years, the teaching and coverage of Black History has been centered around enslavement and the fight for Civil Rights. While those are incredibly important pieces of Black lived experience in our country, they are not the full picture. That focus on struggle and overcoming diminishes or outright ignores the many ways in which the United States was shaped by Black people in a wide variety of social, political, and cultural roles. Let us take time this month to learn the names, accomplishments, and contributions of Black Americans who deserve to be honored.

Book List

From Media Center Specialist Leslie Wachter

Click here for a list of books we have in the Media Center, many of which have been distributed to the Elementary classrooms!