We are excited to spend this month highlighting, teaching, and celebrating the experiences and contributions of African Americans. Our district is committed to teach and share about the contributions and experiences of all peoples in our curriculum, classrooms, and interactions with our students throughout the year. During the month of February, we will enliven our resolution as we focus on African Americans; history, culture, contributions, experiences, etc.
Our theme for Black History Month 2022 is Knowing the Unknown. We are challenging each individual in our district to research information that is not familiar or repeated each year. Although Dr. Martin Luther King, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Frederick Douglas, Jackie Robinson, and several others are common historical figures, and should be recognized, there are many more significant people and events that most children and adults have not been made aware, that have shaped our country.
Did You Know?
- One in four cowboys were black, but African-American cowboys are rarely seen in pop culture.
- The idea for vaccination was introduced from the African tradition of inoculation by an enslaved person named Onesimus.
- During World War II, historically Black universities and colleges were a place of refuge for persecuted Jews seeking asylum from Nazi Germany.
- Katherine Johnson was a mathematician for NASA whose work was critical to sending astronauts into orbit and landing on the moon.
- Before Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus, a 15-year-old girl named Claudette Colvin did the same thing.
- Dr. Gladys West provided the calculations that lead to modern-day GPS.
- The iconic “Betty Boop” cartoon is actually based on a black child actor named Esther Jones who delighted audiences around the world in the 1920
(Taken from, African American History You Probably Weren’t Taught In School Link: https://www.insider.com/african-american-history-you-probably-werent-taught-in-school-2020-6)
Black History Month events and activities are taking place in and out of our classrooms this month. Please review our Black History Month Event Packet for more information.