African Heritage & Black History Month - Information Sheet

Woodson, Carter Godwin (1875-1950), was an African American historian who became known as the Father of Black History. Woodson devoted his life to bringing the achievements of black people to the world's attention. His founding of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now the Association for the Study of African American Life and History) in 1915 has been called the start of the black history movement. The association began publishing a scholarly magazine, The Journal of Negro History (now The Journal of African American History), in 1916. The best known of Woodson's 16 books is Negro in Our History (1922). Many scholars consider it one of the finest full-length works on black history. In 1926, Woodson helped establish the annual observance of Negro History Week, which expanded to become Black History Month in the 1970's. Woodson was born on Dec. 19, 1875, in New Canton, Virginia. His parents were former slaves. Woodson received a Ph.D. degree in history from Harvard University. He won the Spingarn Medal for outstanding achievement by a black American in 1926. He died on April 3, 1950. Carter G. Wilson initially chose the second week of February for Negro History Week, because it marks the birthdays of Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln who had great influence within the black American community. February is also significant because of the birth of W.E.B. DuBois an important leader of the Civil Rights Movement, on February 23, 1868; the passing of the 15 th Amendment on February 3, 1870 which recognized the right to vote for blacks in America.
An excerpt from: Pratt, Robert A. "Woodson, Carter Godwin." World Book Advanced. World Book, 2011. Web. 6 Jan. 2011.

Cheryl Rock: Program Facilitator Equity, Diversity, and Race Relations

African Heritage & Black History Month - Information Sheet

ORIGINS OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH VIDEO: history.com A brief look at the History of African Americans and Black History Month http://www.history.com/topics/black-history-month/videos#origins-of-black-history-month Maya Angelou and Rosa Parks http://www.history.com/videos/origins-of-black-history-month#ask-steve-mlk-jr Martin Luther King Jr. http://www.history.com/photos/martin-luther-king-jr

Activities and Resources for Celebrating Black History Month Activities, lesson plans and printable worksheets: http://fun.familyeducation.com/black-historymonth/holidays/32871.html Cross-curricular resources: http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=375 1083 The Black Inventor on-line Museum http://www.blackinventor.com/ The Book Of Negroes
http://www.lawrencehill.com/the_book_of_negroes.html

The Buxton Museum http://www.buxtonmuseum.com/ Virtual Museum http://www.museevirtuelvirtualmuseum.ca/sgc-cms/expositionsexhibitions/afro_canadiensafrican_canadians/English/HTML/Arlie.h tml Canadian Black History Virtual Museum
multiculturalism.gc.ca/blackhistorymo nth

African Heritage Month Honours Unsung Heroes http://gov.ns.ca/news/smr/2012-01-20African-Heritage-Month/

GUMBOOTS HISTORY Rhythm has a language: This form of movement is also referred to as STEP movement or dance and is a form of movement developed out of the necessity for nonverbal communication among South African miners in the Apartheid era. http://www.gumbootsworldtour.com/english/history.html Gumboot dancers in Cape Town http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSgFAG0mtac Gumboot Dance Story http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ce_2p9wQRS4&feature=related

Cheryl Rock: Program Facilitator Equity, Diversity, and Race Relations

African Heritage & Black History Month - Information Sheet

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The colour of the skin is in no way connected with strength of the mind or intellectual powers. Benjamin Banneker

Recognized by the Parliament of Canada since December 1995, Black History Month provides students and staff with a unique opportunity to develop an understanding of the rich origins of people of African and Caribbean descent; acknowledges the historical misrepresentations, and obstacles that many have faced, while celebrating the strength, accomplishments, and contributions of a tenacious people, to Canada and the world. February also presents a wonderful opportunity to continue the development of student engagement through critical media literacy and creative forms of expression. The celebration of Black History Month should focus on building knowledge of African and cultural heritage that moves beyond multicultural observances focused on food, dance and music forms. While events related to Black History Month may include exposing students to Black cultural products and performances, they should go beyond the celebratory to address how to ensure racial equity and social justice in society. Issues addressed should involve a discussion of historical realities, and their connections to the contemporary context. Suggestions that racial discrimination is only a thing of the past may negate the experiences of our students from diverse backgrounds. While it is important to acknowledge the existence of intolerance, students should be given the opportunity and the tools to critique contemporary issues, news items, and their personal experiences, while being encouraged to build resilience and the skills that will enable them to work towards social justice for all. It is important to focus on lessons and resources that illuminate dignity in spite of these conditions and their resistance to oppressive conditions, rather than on the negative conditions themselves. Please be aware of lessons that portray people of African descent stereotypically, or as victims. For the above reasons: Whenever possible Black History Month activities should not be restricted to extra-curricular announcements, assemblies, and programs, but should be integrated into the curriculum for awareness-building, where they are balanced with critical media literacy and equity-focused activities. Refer to a variety of famous male and female historical and contemporary figures of importance. While reinforcing the importance of perseverance and integrity, particularly in reference to contemporary figures, there should be a focus on Blacks in non-stereotypical roles (e.g. roles other than those related to sports and entertainment). A discussion about famous firsts (e.g.

Cheryl Rock: Program Facilitator Equity, Diversity, and Race Relations

African Heritage & Black History Month - Information Sheet

the first Black president of the United States, the first Black woman astronaut etc.) should include a discussion about the barriers that these individuals had to overcome, and conditions that hindered, and continue to hinder, other qualified individuals from reaching their potential and achieving their dreams.

Suggestions for curriculum connections: In language classes, use age-appropriate historical novels as well as books, articles, newspaper clippings relating to contemporary events. Have a selection of topical books, novels, articles, newspaper clippings etc. available for independent reading sessions. Easy reader picture books are handy tools, even at the intermediate and senior levels, to raise relevant issues without requiring the students to do intensive or long reading. These books can also be used to simultaneously teach or review reading/comprehension strategies. (See the list of picture books below for some suggested titles) If you have difficulty finding appropriate resources, this can also be made a focus for discussion in class. Some Resources:

Lorimer.ca Black Canadian Sports Heroes http://www.lorimer.ca/blackhistorymonth?utm_campaign=Black%20History%20Month%20RESEND&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_content=Biographies%20of%20Blac k%20Canadian%20Sports%20Heroes

Canadian Black History Website http://blackhistorycanada.ca/ This site offers a wealth of information, resources, and links relevant to Black history in Canada for use in the classroom or for research. This site features a For Teachers link with curriculum correlation chart and further links to support teachers teaching this material. Holes (Video, Novel Sets and Teachers guides) Engaging and entertaining novel often used in junior grades, but better suited to Intermediate and even older grades because of the parallel story lines taking place in different time periods. Appeals to the entire class, but many boys find it particularly engaging. The story line links past discrimination to

Cheryl Rock: Program Facilitator Equity, Diversity, and Race Relations

African Heritage & Black History Month - Information Sheet

present inequity and injustice as well as gender issues and exploitation of youth. Teachers guide lessons should be supplemented with the sensitive teaching of these themes. Available through DDSB Medianet*. Many Voices Video Series: (Available through DDSB Medianet*): Videos about diverse cultures and race based discrimination and bullying. Canadas Centre for Digital and Media Literacy www.mediasmarts.ca This site includes many lessons about equity and diversity with a focus on the critical literacy and lessons are available in English and French.

Underground Railroad Site www.nationalgeographic.com/railroad This is an interactive website simulating the journey on the Underground Railroad. Students must make choices that escapees had to make. Also includes interesting biographical and historical information, and a timeline of significant US events surrounding enslavement which should be supplemented with Canadian Information. Videos on Canadian Black History (Available through DDSB Medianet*): Breaking the Ice: The story of Mary Ann Shadd Harriet Tubman Ontario: A History Buried Prairie Dream: Blacks in Western Canada Remember Africville Slavery: A Canadian Story The Packwood Family Speakers for the Dead The Preston, Nova Scotia Story This following clip is also an excellent discussion starter for intermediate and senior classes to look at stereotypes and media bias: http://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story.html

Cheryl Rock: Program Facilitator Equity, Diversity, and Race Relations

African Heritage & Black History Month - Information Sheet

Some Black History Books & Novels (Available through DDSB Medianet**) The Book of Negroes (Secondary School libraries will each be receiving 5 copies of this novel) Outward Dreams: Black Inventors and their Inventions Jim Haskins To Be A Slave Julius Lester (memoirs of an enslaved man) Three Caribbean Women in Canadian Politics Underground to Canada Barbara Smucker (Available in Elementary School libraries) Elijah of Buxton Christopher Paul Curtis (Available in Elementary School libraries) Some Favourite Easy Reader Books: (Available through DDSB Medianet**) African Beginnings James Haskins & Kathleen Benson Africa Dream Eloise Greenfield Afro-bets kids: Im Gonna Be Wade Hudson Amazing Grace Mary Hoffman Grandpa, is everything Back Bad? Sandy Lynn Holman The Kids Book of Black Canadian History Rosemary Sadlier King of Another Country Fiona French Lets Talk About Race Julius Lester Martins Big Words Doreen Rappaport Somewhere in Africa Ingrid Mennen and Niki Daly

Black History Month posters. Available through DDSB Medianet** or by ordering directly from the Ontario Black History Society *Videos and novel sets may be booked online through Medianet (find the Media Library Resources link in the drop-down menu on the staff Intranet) **Books and posters may be booked online through Medianet Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope... and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance. ~Robert F. Kennedy

Cheryl Rock: Program Facilitator Equity, Diversity, and Race Relations