Black History Month exists to recognize and celebrate the achievements of Black citizens in the United States; it’s a time to honor the hardships and successes of the Black community. If you want to celebrate this month with your family but don’t know where to start, we hope these resources will be helpful. Review this list with your teen and encourage them to help you to choose a few things they’d like to go over together!
Black History Month resources for your family
Read
- The National Museum of African American History & Culture’s guide on talking about race as a parent or caregiver.
- The History channel’s collection of informative articles and videos on Black history in America.
- Review this list of Black history facts from the History channel.
- Discuss the importance of Brown v. Board of Education (explanation of the case here).
- Read a few of the Poetry Foundation’s recommended poems that celebrate Black History Month.
- One of Scholastic’s recommended books on Martin Luther King Jr.
Watch
- African American History Month’s list of audio and video resources.
- Biography.com’s collection of biographies of the most notable African Americans.
- Check out these lists of African American scientists, inventors, and athletes (all from Biography).
- Watch one of these eight recommended movies from Common Sense Media. (Parental discretion is advised.)
Keep in mind the heart of your teen when reviewing this list of resources. Is your kid a visual learner? You might want to pick a movie or video. Are they into sports? Explore a few famous athletes together to learn more about their impact on American sports. Or if they’re into literature, you might choose a poem or two to dissect. The point is, find something that you and your teen can connect with. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what we choose to explore, just that we keep an open, curious, empathetic mind to celebrate this month. Happy conversing!