- Taelor J.
- Thursday, June 23, 2022
Black History Month should not be just a time to celebrate African Americans who have paved the way for us all to thrive. It should be a time to challenge the stubbornly persistent tendency to teach Black History as a footnote to American history. We should commit to telling the complete and vibrant story of a complete and vibrant culture to both students and adults. - Sachel Harris (Communications Manager, The New Teacher Project)
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Time for Black History Month
In elementary school there were three times of the year I got really excited about; when we studied dinosaurs, the planets and Black History Month. To me it was a time of pride, we got to learn about Black Americans and there was a whole month dedicated to everyone in the school learning about "my people". We wrote our paragraphs on the one person we chose to research, colored our Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks coloring sheets and even had Black History Month programs for our families to come see.
I still get excited for Black History Month but now that I am no longer in elementary school it comes with sadness too. While I want there to always be a Black History Month I also want the lives, stories, accomplishments and the overall Black Excellence of Black Americans to be taught right a long with George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. Black history is more than Slavery and more than the Civil Rights Movement. Black Americans helped build this country and have made monumental contributions to the advancement of America that everyone needs to learn about. Black History is American History and 28 days is not enough to account for the extraordinary impact that Black Americans have had on this country.
I no longer have the joy of being among classmates learning about the greatness of Black Americans but I do get to be Unapologetically Blackity Black Black for a full 28 days!
Want to learn more about Black Americans and their impact on America?
Take a look at the following booklist featuring the newest books on Black History and Black Americans:
Box
Box
A Ride to Remember
Becoming Muhammad Ali
Becoming Muhammad Ali
Lizzie Demands a Seat
Mighty Justice
Above the Rim
Claudette Colvin
The Power of Her Pen
The ABCs of Black History
Opening the Road
Kamala Harris
Mamie on the Mound
The Oldest Student
Making Their Voices Heard
A Ride to Remember
A Ride to Remember
Patricia's Vision
Ready to Fly
Dream Builder
Becoming Muhammad Ali
Lift As You Climb
Althea Gibson
Black Heroes of the Wild West
Baseball's Leading Lady
#OwnVoices at Richland Library is a way for African American staff to provide thoughtful and well written book reviews, book lists and blog posts to promote African American authors and their work about the African American experience. The series invites our customers to learn one more way we are continuing the conversation in our community and speaking our voice. Find more resources on race, equity and inclusion, here.