Making Black History Month Relevant
by Jenny M. Buccos

Since its inception in 1976, Black History Month has been the center of heated public debate. “Why do we ignore Black History for the rest of the year?” “What about Women’s History Month?” “What about every other American culture?” are just a few of questions that are asked each February.

Despite the debate, Black History Month remains an integral part of curricula for most U.S. schools, the time when educators emphasize the history and past achievements of the African Diaspora. When I was in school, I recall lessons on Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, and Booker T. Washington. Perhaps, a day was spent on Dr. King’s Dream Speech, but the majority of the lessons were centered on slavery, abolition, Abraham Lincoln, and segregation in the 1950s & 1960s. I spent months learning about the world’s ancient civilizations, yet I cannot recall any mention of Africa prior to the time of U.S. slavery. I don’t remember any African history that was relevant to my time or could be placed in context with other World History, which probably why I retained so little on these subject matters.

One of the biggest challenges educators face today is making history relevant to today’s youth.  Students tend to learn about the history of race relations in our country as if it’s part of our past, with little attention paid to race as it relates to education and the quality of living today. The strength of future communities requires an understanding of past history and culture and Black History Month should provide a historical foundation for a constructive dialogue about today’s society.

When discussing the Civil Rights Movement, turn to the day’s news programs and newspapers. Examples of the marginalization of minorities can be found across the globe. When studying Nelson Mandela, consider the 1976 Student Uprisings in South Africa in relation to the recent demonstrations in Egypt and Tunisia, where youth are playing a key role in changing the government.

Image from the 16 June 1976 Soweto Student Uprising. Courtesy of the Sowetan Newspaper, South Africa

Rather than using Black History Month solely to acknowledge African-American leaders of the past, use this month to encourage students to learn about the continued struggle for equality. Let the words of Dr. King, Nelson Mandela, and Malcolm X, inspire students to become active participants in the fight against racism, inequality, and oppression, not just in the Black community, but globally. In this spirit, the intent and message of Black History Month can extend far beyond February.

Jenny M. Buccos is the ProjectExplorer Editor for Wandering Educators. You can see more of their videos at explr.com