“Why do we have Black History Month?” 

How do you answer that question? Many White adults can rattle off stories of heroes like Harriet Tubman, Jackie Robinson, and Rosa Parks. There is talk about all of the Black people who overcame hardship like slavery, who excelled despite racism, and who stood up for their rights in the face of White supremacy. There is focus on the good that overcame the bad, but not much talk of what the bad actually was, or who created, promoted, and benefited from it. Black History Month is an opportunity to reflect on what has been included, and more importantly, what has been left out of American History. 

“Perhaps there would be no need to observe Black history in a designated month if it were taught year-round, alongside other histories as part of a regular curriculum. It wouldn’t be such a novelty if there were a rigorous effort to view it as a central part of the American story. 

But we aren’t there yet. And, until we get there, Black History Month should be recognized as a crucial opportunity to broaden students’ knowledge and help them see how the past connects with their lives today – and how it has inspired movements for change. “…

“This is why we have to push our teaching beyond chronicles of “famous firsts” or exceptional Black people. We need instead to explain why we still have firsts – and how our nation developed the structures that kept Black people out of certain spaces or refused them certain opportunities, regardless of their merit or talent.” 

Source: Coshandra Dillard at Learning for Justice

So How Do We Teach Children Deeper, More Accurate Black History?

Learning for Justice suggests using these four steps to shape conversations with students about Black History, and they can easily be used at home as well:

1. Begin with student voice and experience. What are our kids seeing in the world and how are they making sense of it? Use their point of view to talk about race, class, and gender.
2. Educate students about the socio-political context. Validate the imbalances children see in the world and talk about how racism shapes opportunities, how economic injustice shapes income inequality and employment, and how resource gaps create inequalities in the health of communities. 
3. Highlight the role other communities of color play in Black history. Many other groups have lived, worked, and fought for human rights alongside Black communities. Group histories intersect in daily life, culture, and work and it is important that everyone hears and sees these stories. 
4. Introduce complex descriptions of key figures in history. No person is one-dimensional and we can use these four “thinking dispositions” to better understand that complexity:
   • distinction (how are things different)
   • relationship (how are things the same)
   • system (how are things connected)
   • perspective (what are the possible ways to understand this thing)

What Does More Accurate Black History Look Like?

One example of a one-dimensional version of a story that is missing socio-political context is the popular story of Rosa Parks staying in her seat on the bus. Here is a video for younger and elementary age children that provides a more in-depth history of Rosa Parks and the circumstances around her famous refusal to leave her seat.

For older kids and adults, Dr. David Ikard explains how the story of Rosa Parks has been whitewashed and why historical context is important.

**Content warning: This video includes talk about guns and briefly shows historical photos of a lynching and other violence against Black people.

Places to Find More Accurate Black History

• Share videos and podcasts about Black History with your family
• MasterClass is offering free classes that teach about race and racism in the United States
• Visit the National Museum of African American History & Culture’s virtual exhibits about Black Health & Wellness or check out one of the museum’s virtual events
• Learn more about the 1619 Project (podcast, books, children’s book read aloud)
• Read a book with your children
• Watch a documentary movie
• Watch a documentary series
• Check out a TedTalk
• Listen to a podcast
• Diversify your news sources
• Explore the work of Black artists

ABAR Challenge

What other examples of whitewashed or overly simplistic Black History stories can you think of? Here’s a challenge for this month: As a family, pick a common Black History Month story, biography, or historical event. Dive deeper into the circumstances of the story and work together to fill in what is missing. If your family feels like sharing what you find out with our SVCMS community, please send an email to sdavis@svcmontessori.org with a note about your family’s topic and what you learned.

EVENT REMINDER: ABAR Book Club & Discussion Group  

This Spring, the ABAR Book Club will be reading the book How to be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi. If you are interested in joining us, please complete this form to be added to the email list. There is no expectation that you will attend every meeting. In fact, we encourage you to join the email list even if you are busy and unsure whether you’ll make every meeting. The book club discussion will be held via Zoom.

The Longmont Library has multiple copies available, as well an excellent audiobook version available on the Libby or OverDrive apps. Join us to learn, discuss questions, and share insights!