My sons and I feeling empowered after leaving the National Museum of African American History and Culture opening weekend.
There is still time to celebrate Black History Month with your little ones, if you haven’t done so already. Black History Month, originally known as Negro History Week, is an integral part of American culture that began as a week-long celebration to acknowledge the contributions made by African-American men and women in America, eventually evolving into a national, month-long celebration, to ensure these contributions would never be forgotten.
I’d like to say Black History Month has always been important to me, but that is not necessarily the case. Growing up in rural, western Pennsylvania, I did not generally learn about black history in school, or read about it when I opened my text books. But I was probably about in the third grade when I finally began to realize the importance of what it meant to be black. I played Corretta Scott-King, the wife of civil-rights icon, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in the third-grade school musical. This was really a defining moment for me, as I learned through the song my third-grade teacher, Mrs. Cromartie, taught me, that once upon a time, not everyone was treated equally. The lyrics of the song went a little something like this:
Dr. King, Dr. King. Dr. King was a civil rights leader. Dr. King, Dr. King. He had a dream. He wanted everybody to live like brothers. He wanted everybody to live like sisters. He wanted everybody to live like brothers. This was his dream. Repeat.
Mrs. Cromartie (God rest her soul), was not only one of the most influential teachers I ever had, but was the first (and one of the only), to ever teach me about black history. In addition to the school play, Mrs. Cromartie would do month-long lessons about black history. The faces of Malcolm X, the baseball player, and the woman who refused to give up her seat on the bus (as I knew them at the time), weren’t too familiar to me at first, but thanks to Mrs. Cromartie, it wasn’t long before these pioneers would come to inspire the entire way I live my life.
Why is black history important to share, even if you aren’t raising black children? This is a fairly simple answer: because black history is American History. Our African-American civil-rights leaders taught me to never take no for answer, to always reach for the stars, and to know that there will always be struggles and adversity, but we much push through in spite of. If I had not been exposed to the more notable leaders of the civil-rights movement, I would have never learned that I could one day be a writer like Toni Morrison, that justice will always prevail like Angela Davis, and that we have a right to study at the best schools in the country like Martin Delany. We can’t tell our kids stories about America without including the stories that defy stereotypes, defy race, defy socioeconomic class, and defy hate. We can’t tell our children stories about the Civil War without mentioning Harriet Tubman. We can’t tell our children the history of the Supreme Court Justices without mentioning Thurgood Marshall. We can’t teach our children about the Presidents of the United States without including President Barack Obama. There is a whole lot more history where these African-American figures come from, but I think you get the point. I certainly can’t tell you what to do, or how to teach your children about black history, but what I can tell you, is simply what I do.
In my house, February is dedicated to black history. Of course we celebrate Valentine’s Day, watch the Superbowl, and cave into watching the Grammys and Academy Awards shows, but our main priority is to share black history moments with our children throughout the month so they gain an understanding of the shoulders they stand on. Because we are a black family, we naturally celebrate black history throughout the year, but February is a time where we consciously make an effort to teach about those who paved the way for us. In April, we celebrate Easter. In July, we celebrate Independence Day. In October, we celebrate Halloween. In November, we celebrate Thanksgiving. In December, we celebrate Christmas. In January, we celebrate the new year. In February, we celebrate black history.
In your effort to teach your kids about black history for the remainder of the month, here are a few tips that might make sharing a little easier for you:
1. Visit the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
A visit to the NMAAHC might be one of the hottest tickets in town right now. Although tickets are hard to get, visiting the museum is an experience that will open your eyes and change your life. To see so much history dedicated to the lives of African-Americans who contributed so much to this country, right on the National Mall, is definitely something to be proud of. Tickets are sold out for the next few months, but the museum offers same-day tickets for the early birds who want to take their chances and get them online before they sell out for the day. The museum also offers walk-up tickets for those who might be visiting and are willing to walk by and see if there are any open slots for the day. Check out their website for information about same-day tickets. If you can’t make it to the Smithsonian, check out the local African-American museum in your own backyard.
2. Try a little Soul Food
What do I mean when I say soul food? I’m talking about food that’s good for the soul! Soul food is a term given to the traditionally southern cuisine prepared by African-Americans that originated during slavery. Slaves were often given the leftovers and undesirable parts of animal, but they made the best of what they were given, and created some of the best food many of us have ever tasted. I had the pleasure of growing up with a Mississippi-raised great-grandmother who was the daughter of a slave. Many of her recipes have been passed down through the generations and are often prepared by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. To get a little taste of soul food, there are several great restaurants in the Nation’s Capital and surrounding areas, but if you aren’t local and can’t make a stop down to Henry’s Soul Cafe, or Florida Avenue Grill (just to name a few — for some of the best soul food restaurants I have ever been to), here are some great, online recipes you can try at home.
3. Catch a Good Black History Flick
There are numerous films out there portraying the journey of African-Americans throughout history, but if you’re looking for something more recent and a bit kid-friendly, make a trip to see Hidden Figures (now in theaters), or check out The Watsons go to Birmingham (now on Netflix). My little guys and I have dedicated movie night for the month of February to black history, so we also watched 42, the story of Jackie Robinson, and the Wiz, which both kept them very entertained. The Wiz is currently on Netflix for those who want to check it out with their little ones. You won’t be sorry. Trust me!
4. Play a Game of “Name That Inventor”
You would be amazed if you knew the amount of everyday items we use that were created or invented by African-Americans. Throughout the month, the boys and I have been playing “Name That Inventor.” When we’re simply driving down the street, or preparing dinner at home, when I pass or use something I know to be invented by an African-American, I point it out and ask Mr. President #1 and Mr. President #2, “Do you know who invented that?” I have pointed out items like a traffic light, invented by Garett Morgan; a dustpan and brush, invented by Lloyd P. Ray; and even the ironing board, invented by Sarah Boone. If you aren’t sure about the ingenius inventions by African-Americans that literally changed the world, click here for some ideas to share with your little ones.
5. Listen to a Little African-American Music
From blues to hip-hop, African-American artists have left their mark on it all. If you want to share a little kid-friendly, traditionally African-American music with your youngsters, Motown is definitely a great place to start. You can’t go wrong with some of the classics. Besides, your little ones probably have no idea those theme songs they hear in Trolls, Sing, and just about every other animated kids movie now-a-days, was written and performed by black people.
There are several ways to celebrate Black History Month as a reminder of the struggle many of our ancestors faced in the journey to equality. Remember to celebrate the richness of African-American culture, and acknowledge the contributions so many African-Americans have made to change the world, even in the face of adversity. Jack Robinson, the first African-American baseball player to play in Major League Baseball, once said, “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” We don’t live for ourselves, but we live to make a greater impact for the rest of the world. It’s amazing how much we can do to change the world, regardless of what we look like. Happy Black History Month!