American history with a focus on African Americans

Fun activities and information on Black inventors http://http//teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bhistory/inventors/

Interactive online game using African American facts
http://pbskids.org/aaworld/face.html

It is black history month and all across America there are still schools that fail to realize the significance of the celebration. Unfortunately in America many immigrants contributions to the world continue to be intentionally omitted from school curriculum. Institutionalized racism is then reinforced in most sectors of American society once students leave school. For African Americans the deficit lens of poverty, slavery, and a lack of motivation persist in the curriculum and the media.
Many educators are fearful about addressing black history because of their own ignorance of American history. One teacher says she felt that because she was not African American she could not address black history. This is ridiculous. In fact, most educators know little about African kingdoms, African settlements in the Americas, black inventors, scientist, poets, artist, musicians, activist, business people and politicians. Some are aware of musicians and athletes.

So what does black history look like in a Preschool class? It looks like stories, action songs, games and center activities. What does it look like in a second grade class? It looks like word searches, group research projects, collages, center activities, arts & crafts, thinking maps, Venn Diagrams, book reports and language arts experiences around content that address African Americans. In a fifth grade class black history would look more like the development of a time line, a group project on an African American inventor, poet, activist, ect. Let me add, if there is information sent home about an African American then it should be accompanied by a picture. You Tube is a good resouce as well. Go to the library or use the Internet to help students add a face to the story and names. It is important that they see themselves in these great people.
Research on improved outcomes has always supported the need for all children to walk into a classroom and see themselves in the posters, books, and curriculum. This is a piece that has always been missing as most classrooms in places like California do not reflect the diverse populations they serve.

White Americans have always been used as the standard and this may hold keys to why many diverse students are under performing in schools. American history should represent all history because we cant teach children unless their hearts are touched, they believe their teacher cares, they see what they are learning as relevant and meaningful.

One last thought, I remember seeing a Paul Mitchell commercial and thinking that this product must not be for me because no one in the ad looked like me or had hair like mine. Guess what, I never bought Paul Mitchell hair products. Are the kids in schools buying what is being sold?


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