To commemorate and recognize the contributions of African American people, Carter G. Woodson established Black History Week (initially Negro History Week) in 1926. Known as the Father of Black History, Carter G. Woodson felt that in order for Blacks to participate intelligently in the affairs of our country, they should know their past. In 1976, this one week celebration held the second week in February was expanded to a month as part of the nation’s bicentennial.
While I teach African American History/Black History facts throughout the school year, I do look forward to this month whereby students can learn nuggets of African American history every day in February. However, there is a tendency to study the same topics (people, places, events, etc.) each year. I find it refreshing to highlight people and events we know very little about. So, I often stress to my students to choose subjects for book reports and projects that are not necessarily well known or explored.
With that being said, I’d like to share with you an article I recently located on PBS, titled, “Ten Little Known Black History Facts.” Invigorate your mind as you read about African Americans and events that you may not have known (I surely didn’t)!
For Readers: Find reading and writing inspiration from some of the awesome facts within the link above. Maybe, as a teacher or a student you will introduce an innovative literacy lesson or project to add to your African American History/Black History month activities.
For Writers: Find writing inspiration to create an untouched writing project from some of the awesome facts within the link above.
Thanks for reading this blog post. I invite you to join me again as I continue to explore literacy topics for readers and writers. Please share my blog with others and feel free to subscribe to this publication, so that you don’t miss an issue.
P.S.
The eBook, Grandma, Granddad We Want to Praise God, the third book in the series: Families Growing in Faith is available for Pre-orders! Available at Amazon, Apple, Kobo, Nook, & other online book retailers.
Vanessa Fortenberry,
Teacher-Librarian
M.Ed., Media
Ed.S., Media
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