Black History Month Celebration

February 8, 2022

Activity for today:

Watch the Chicago Tonight Video as two former African-American baseball players and Jackie Robison's biographer reflect on Robison's achievements. After watching the video, students can discuss the importance of never giving up and having a support system during difficult times. 

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

Jackie Robinson

(b. 1919 - d. 1972)

Baseball Player 

First African-American to play in Major League Baseball. 

 Source: Pixabay

February 9, 2022

Activity for today:

Students can take part in an Online Scavenger Hunt. At the same time, students take a journey through African-American history as they learned about important historical figures. 

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

Dr. Mae C. Jemison

b. 1956

Physician and Astronaut

First African-American woman to travel to outer space.

Source: National Women's History Museum

February 10, 2022

Activity for today:

Students can trace the footsteps of the Civil Rights Movement by taking a virtual walk and exploring the Alabama Civil Rights Trail . Explore the landmark places, people, and events that took place. 

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

Dr. James West

b. 1931

Physicist, Inventor, Professor

Co-developed the foil electric microphone which is now used in all contemporary microphones. 

 Source: Sonavi Labs, Feb. 2019

February 11, 2022

Activity for today:

Learn about the scientific work of African-Americans with these Black History Month resources from the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

Dr. Gladys West

b. 1930

Mathematician

Dr. West develop the Global Position System (GPS) and programed the Naval Ordinance Research Calculator (NORC).

Source: Association for Women in Science

February 14, 2022

Activity for today:

Read excerpts from President Barack Obama’s The Audacity of Hope (or his Audacity of Hope speech) and discuss the importance of the election of our country’s first black president.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

Dr. Patricia Bath

(b. 1942 - d. 2019)

Physician and Inventor

Discovered and invented the medical device for cataract surgery knows as laserphoco. 

Source: Changing the Face of Medicine 

February 15, 2022

Activity for today:

Students can create a newsletter or literary magazine to distribute in school or to parents. It can include stories about famous African-Americans, poems, facts, special writing pieces, and images. 

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

      Kamal Harris

(b. 1964)

Vice President of the United States

Lawyer and politician who is the first female and African-American to be elected as the 49th Vice President of the United States. 

Source: Open Source-Creative Commons

February 16, 2022

Activity for today:

Read books with African-American characters. Click on the link to find the list of books with African-American protagonists. 

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

Maya Angelou

(b. 1928 - d. 2014)

Poet, singer, dancer, activist, and scholar who is recognized for her literary works and known for her autobiographical writing style. 

Source: Nation Women's History Museum

February 17, 2022

Activity for today:

Learn about the art of Stepping. It is a form dance to create unique rhythms and sounds using the body itself. Visit the website Step Afrika! to watch videos and learn more. 

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

Misty Danielle Copland

(b. 1982)

Ballet Dancer

The first African-American woman to become the principal dancer in the American Ballet Theater.

Source: CC Life in Motion 

February 18, 2022

Activity for today:

Read about Frankie Freeman, Civil Rights icon. Have your students write about we are currently in regard to race relations and racial diversity.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

Carter G. Woodson

(b. 1875 - d. 1950)

Historian, journalist, and professor

Mr. Woodson began Black History Month to preserve the history of African-Americans. He is also the second African-American to graduate with a doctorate from Harvard University. 

Source: Marshall University

February 21, 2022

Activity for today:

Tour the Griot Museum of Black History and learn about the role St. Louis had in the Dred Scott Case at the Field House Museum.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

 Thurgood Marshall

(b. 1908 - d. 1993)

Lawyers and Supreme Court Justice

Before become a Supreme Court Justice, Justice Marshall was a Civil Rights lawyer who  fought againsts segreation. As a lawyer he argued Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 which ended segreation. He is was the first African-American to be nominated and to serve as Justice of the Supreme Court. 

Source: Library of Congres by Robert Oakes

February 22, 2022

Activity for today:

Teach about the importance of journalism as well as its limitations during the Civil Rights Movement.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

 Madam C.J. Walker

(b. 1867 - d. 1919)

Entrepreneur

Madam Walker was the first African-American female millionaire. She created her furturne through her homemade line of hair prpducts for African-American women.

 Source: National Park Service

February 23, 2022

Activity for today:

Share excerpts of contemporary novelist Zadie Smith’s On Beauty with students and, using the reading guide, have a discussion about her portrayal of white and black middle-class kids in America.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

 Harriet Tubman

(b. 1822 - d. 1913)

Abolitionist

Ms. Tubman was born into slavery and was able to escape. She became the conductor for the Underground Railroad and helped many other slaves escape to freedom. During the Civil War, she became head of the espionage and scout network for the Union Army.

Source: House Divided: The Civil War Research Engine

February 24, 2022

Activity for today:

For older students, read and/or watch The Hate You Give. Have a discussion lead by the author’s discussion questions.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

 Tom Bradley

(b. 1917 - d. 1998)

Politician and Police Officer

Mr. Bradley  first served as a Los Angeles police office for 21 years. During his time in the police force, he raised to the rank of Lieutenant. He also became the first African-American mayor in the city of Los Angeles and the whole country in 1973. Mr. Bradley went on to serve five terms as mayor of Los Angeles. 

Source: CC Wikimeida Commons

Marie Van Brittan Brown

(b. 1922 - d. 1999)

Nurse and Innovator

Mrs. Brown began her career as a nurse and would work long hours late into the night. Mrs. Brown co-invented the home security system with her husband due to the fear of high crime in her neighborhood. In 1966, she assisted her husband in inventing a security system for surveillance know as CCTV which is used today. 

Source: Lemelson-MIT