Still Teaching Black History Month
February is Black History Month, but all too often it is treated as an asterisk in education. Black History month is more than MLK, Harriet Tubman, and Rosa Parks, and contributions from poets, authors, inventors, and statesmen helped shape American culture beyond what’s typically thought of as “Black Entertainment”; rather, much of what is taught in Black History Month is really American History (as Langston Hughes says, “I, too, am America”). You can teach these units throughout the year and still be teaching the key parts of the American Common Core, but because it is February, the best time to start is now.
Rap, Poetry, songs, & Kendrick Lamar: African-American poetry, too, is America
Kendrick Lamar’s album Damn is now part of the IB (International Baccalaureate) curriculum, which means you can listen to his music in class and have students do a rhetorical analysis on his poetry. Students love when they get to analyze modern media for literature class instead of just the capital “C” canon of dead white guys (though, some of the dead white guys, (and women) wrote some pretty great stuff, too) . But there’s no reason not to include more songs and lyrics in an analysis of black poetry’s contribution to American literature. Billie Holiday’s rendition of “Strange Fruit” makes a shocking piece to demonstrate how contrasting imagery juxtaposed between lines can heighten the message, and is a great first lesson in how poets use figurative language. Maya Angelou, as an American Poet Laureate, is a must (take a class to consider, compare, and contrast how both she and Bukowski each use the symbol of a bird ion their respective poems), and of course, as the title references, Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes is a great jumping off point for an entire English Black History Month unit.
Frederick Douglass Did it for the ‘Gram: Links between race, media, & technology
All art is a dialogue: Every story, every poem, every movie could have been an essay instead. Orwell said it best when he said, “All Art is Propaganda”. English Language Arts class is a great place to examine the way media and imagery shape our thinking just as much as Psychology class is. Frederick Douglass, in particular, wanted to change the way African-Americans were perceived through his self-photography just as much as through his writings. To what extent is our thinking shaped by the images of a people? How do we change that image if it is currently deceptive or hateful? How are movies and shows by the likes of Jordan Peele (Get Out) and Donald Glover (Atlanta) tackling the issue? How did early technology not take race into account and make inferior products (particularly concerning photography)? Research and engage in a Socratic seminar on this important topic.
Teaching Black Literature for Black History Month
One of the most frequently cited books on the AP Literature exam is Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man. Octavia Butler, winner of the Nebula and Hugo awards, has written amazing science fiction novels, such as Parable of the Sower. And of course, Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream Speech” is still analyzed for its skilful writing and use of rhetorical devices. Choose a novel to read for the month, or read excerpts and analyze them in class along with a selection of short stories.
Not Just Peanut Butter: Assign a Presentation on Famous Black Americans
I always found it disappointing when teachers would boil February down to “peanut butter guy month”. Not to disparage George Washington Carver or his accomplishments which benefited us all, but throughout our unit on Black History Month, there are short blurbs about inventors, fashion designers, authors, politicians, musicians, writers, athletes, and media personalities beyond the standard “peanut butter” discourse. Students can research any of the figures highlighted and prepare a presentation for the class to elucidate other students about the impact many black Americans had on creating the tapestry of our red, white, and blue.
Get Started with Black History Month Units in Your Classroom
Black History Month Activities: Common Core Poetry Fiction Music Movies and more
Ralph Ellison Invisible Man: AP Lit FRQ MCQ Harlem Renaissance & Langston Hughes
Get a FREE SAMPLE lesson Artificial Intelligence ChatGPT: Connotation, Denotation, Descriptive Imagery
