Whose stories are not being told, are not known, but should be?
And more importantly—to whom are we not speaking?
No individual’s story ever tells the whole story. History is sorely lacking when we only hear from a few, or when others are completely ignored. Beyond that, we miss out on the chance to reach many people when we don’t share stories they can connect with. In that spirit, we’ve rounded up some resources and some lesser known stories to help you celebrate Black History Month. (As these resources are for a wide range of ages, please review them before sharing them with your kids.)
- 13 fun ways to celebrate and learn about Black History Month for people of all ages
- Fun printable worksheets and activities for kids of all ages to learn about Black History Month
- Browse this compilation of easy-to-read articles for kids surrounding Black History Month
- You may have heard of Jesse Owens, but have you heard of Wilma Rudolph? She overcame polio to become the first American woman to win 3 gold medals at the 1960 Olympics. When she found out that her hometown celebration was to be segregated, she refused to participate—leading to the first integrated events in Clarkeville, TN.
- Play “Find the Face,” a game of match making famous African American heroes and the events that made them famous.
- Check out this website created by the Library of Congress to share exhibits and collections, images, audio/video, resources for teachers, and event highlights for African American History Month
- Share the story of George Haley, the man who wouldn’t quit
- Find videos, articles, and speeches that bring Black History Month to life
- Learn about a project to unearth some never before published news photos—as well as the stories behind some of those historic photos
- Challenge your kids, when reading or watching media, to think about the people who might be missing from the picture. Whose stories might not have been told? Whose voices gone unheard?
How are you celebrating Black History Month with your kids? Please share in the comments—maybe you’ll inspire someone else!