It's the beginning of February, which brings with it the promise of love on Valentine's Day and a month-long celebration of Black History Month. With so many historical and prominent figures that have risen and made a difference throughout history, it will be a race against time to fit everyone in, but we're up for the challenge!
Join us on this exploration of Black History Month, and don't forget to check out these resources so you can continue learning about essential figures long after the month of February has ended.
January 20, 2021- Our first stop is none other than the White House, where the first female vice president does most of her work. Kamala Harris has done what no other woman in history has done and serves alongside President Joe Biden. Before becoming the 49th vice president, Harris spent most of her time serving as the Democratic Party's attorney general in California (2011-2017). From then until she was elected as VP, she moved into a senator position (2017-2021).
October 3, 1904- Mary McLeod Bethune, a woman known for undying passion and motivation to educate young women, opened Daytona Literary & Industrial Training School for Negro Girls. The educational institution would eventually change its name to what is now known as the Historically Black College and University (HBCU), Bethune-Cookman University. The university's opening was one of the highest accomplishments in her years of work to aid young girls in furthering their education. The school merged with another college in 1923 and became the Daytona-Cookman Collegiate Institute.
The Crisis, 1921- This was a magazine published by the NAACP, but little did people know when they opened it, they could enjoy the words of an up-and-coming poet named Langston Hughes. "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" is the first poem Hughes published, but it wouldn't be the last. When you read the poems written by Hughes, it's almost as if you're reading a piece of music from the Jazz Age. In these poems, Hughes did his best to display the various nuances of African-American life in a way that could be easily understood by all that let his words move them.
March 28, 1972- Barbara Jordan was the first African American woman elected to the Texas Senate. During the majority of the time she spent in the Texas Senate, she advocated for the people that voted for her and continued to ensure the protection of African Americans’ civil rights.
It would be wonderful to spend all day with you jumping through history, but rightfully so, we would be here much longer than you could imagine. If you want to continue learning about African American history, you can take a virtual tour of the Smithsonian National Museum. They offer several exhibits that people can enjoy online at their leisure from the comfort of their own homes.
As we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his contributions to the Civil Rights Movement and Black History Month, you can save on titles from Gallopade’s Black Heritage series through February 28, 2023. You’ll find resources to add to your lesson planning and further engage your students with the history of Africans Americans and their great contributions to this country. Browse our MLK and Black Heritage titles now!
And as always, stay tuned for more exciting Gallopade blogs filled with helpful information and resources for your reading pleasure.