In 1926, when Dr. Carter G. Woodson established Negro History week, he recognized the importance of raising awareness of African Americans’ contributions to history. 50 years later, the week became a month, February, dedicated to Black history. Dr. Woodson intended to highlight the contributions of Black people throughout history, supporting equality and civil rights, while increasing the visibility of Black life and history, at a time when few newspapers, books, and universities took notice of the Black community.

The 2024 theme of Black History is "African Americans and the Arts." This theme celebrates the impact Black Americans have had on visual arts, music, and cultural movements.

Teacher Guides are free, downloadable PDFs

• Education and Equity
• Masking Matters
• My People, Our People
• Myth and Modern Society

...and more!

Objectives:

Students will learn about the social, cultural and political forces which gave rise to the Harlem Renaissance. They will also learn about the influences that inspired the work of the Harlem Renaissance’s artists and musicians. Finally, students will be given several opportunities to create their own Harlem Renaissance–inspired work.

Source: PBS

Every Valentine’s Day, we invite you to a birthday party for Frederick Douglass. Although Douglass never knew his birthdate, he chose to celebrate every year on February 14th. We celebrate this date as a moment for creating Black history together.