February is Black History Month!

At home, at school, and in the community, we will be seeing tributes and memorials to the long, rich history reflecting the many African American cultures in the United States, and around the world. Black History Month is a time to recognize the everlasting contributions African Americans have made to our entire society, throughout history. Throughout the month, we must also pay tribute to the historic, imposed struggles from slavery to segregation as well as their ripple effects as seen in current education and health discrepancies suffered currently by the race as a whole.

Black History Month is also an opportunity for us to celebrate our diversity, learn from past conflict, and work to ameliorate the present, and future. Diversity and intolerance continue to be a source of conflict and violence among our youth at school and in the community. During Black History month, parents, teachers, youth service providers should examine, teach and learn. Using outstanding figure heads and heroes of the past, we can expose and inspire our youth to overcome racial conflict and work to improve race relations. Black History Month is another tool for teaching tolerance, acceptance and respect for all kinds of diversity to our youth.

Learn about the struggles, achievements, leaders, and lessons that together, form a rich history of African Americans who will also help mold our future. Most of all, take time this month to find out what Black History Month commemorates and why it is an important event for all of us!

Resources Celebrating Black History Month

• Education World: Celebrating African American History Month
• Celebrating Black History with Family Education Network
• The History Channel Celebrates Black History Month
• Black History Hotlist
• Black History Month: Soul of a Culture by CNN
• The Civil Rights Memorial by the Southern Poverty Law Center
  

Page Updated: February 15, 2005