Feb 01, 2023 2023-02-01

Digital Learning • Learning Support

SPOTLIGHT! On Black History Month

Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in US history. Since 1976 every US president has officially designated February as Black History Month.

Teachers are invited to put the power of these resources to work in their classrooms during Black History Month and throughout the year.

Art and the Civil Rights Movement
Oh Freedom! is an interdisciplinary resource that helps K–12 teachers and students discover the history, influence, and legacy of the civil rights movement by exploring more than three dozen artworks from the collections of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

This resource can be navigated by artwork and time period or by artist. Each artwork is accompanied by close-looking questions, information about the work’s historical and artistic contexts, the artist’s biography, and a selection of related artworks and objects from the wider collections of the Smithsonian Institution.

The Birth of Hip Hop
Hip hop is a relatively new form of American music, but its roots extend back to 1973. Students can learn about The Birth of Hip Hop with this lively introductory video from Black History in Two Minutes (or so). The series is co-produced by Harvard historian (and host) Henry Louis Gates Jr. with tech entrepreneur and philanthropist Robert F. Smith to help preserve the African American experience. Author Joan Morgan, Columbia University Professor Jelani Cobb, rapper Nas, and filmmaker Ava Duvernay tell the story of hip hop’s transition to mainstream.

Lives and Legacies of African American Poets
To celebrate the rich tradition of African American poetry during Black History Month—and all year long—teachers can browse a selection of teaching resources from the American Academy of Poets. The collection features poems by Gwendolyn Brooks, Langston Hughes, Marilyn Nelson, and Claudia Rankine, Tracy K. Smith, among others.

The Story of the Blues
This look at the “most important American music” of the 20th century delves into the history and musical characteristics of the blues in four narrated audio recordings, complete with classic blues songs. Students can go on a blues journey to learn about the influences and impact the blues has had on musical cultures, and how it has been brought to life on stage at The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.

African American Scientific Trailblazers
Black scientists have done it all. They have traveled in space, saved countless lives, and found the recognition that often came easier to their White colleagues. Students can visit Interesting Engineering to learn about African American scientists, past and present, whose work has been instrumental in the making of the modern world. They will meet Patricia Bath, who made significant contributions to ophthalmology; Harold Amos, who was one of the first African Americans to earn a Medical Doctorate; St. Elmo Brady, who made important contributions in organic chemistry; Shirley Ann Jackson who helped revolutionize telecoms—and others!