February is Black History Month, and there is no better time to focus on African American History in one's household. For that matter, there is no better time to start a habit of keeping engaged all year long with this fascinating field. One great way to do this through the simple act of putting up a calendar celebrating notable historical figures and dates.
Black literature, written during different periods of time, is an excellent way to learn the attitudes and lifestyles of black people. It is also a good way for youngsters to get a feeling for what it might have been like to live through the struggles of those gone by. An objective historical document can give important detail and context, but sometimes leaves out the feeling of living through the events.
Families might read a novel together, perhaps one each week for the month, given the book's complexity and size. It might be preferable to chose a different poem written by a black poet every morning and read it at the breakfast table. One advantage to either approach is that they automatically lend variety, since each February can bring an entirely fresh reading list.
Many people, especially the young, feel they already have an expertise in black music even though all they know is rap. This actually creates an opportunity, even a responsibility, to add a musical appreciation component to one's February syllabus just in order to shatter such notions. Too many youngsters have no awareness whatsoever of jazz, and fewer still know anything about the blues.
It goes without saying that Februaries are great months for teaching Black History itself. It is important to emphasize that this is also America's story, not just the story of one minority group. This means that anyone, of any ethnic group, has a stake in a month that is for the entire country. Since black people are still living through challenging times, whites and others can use this as an occasion to deepen their understanding.
There's no reason this study needs to be limited to the United States. Africa, whether before, during, or after the Transatlantic Slave Trade, has its own compelling story to tell. Learning about Africa can be crucially important emotionally for black Americans who might have fallen into the assumption that their story begins in chains in the Old South's cotton plantations, rather than in an African context stretching back thousands of years.
Other ethnic groups might not be comfortable looking into this topic, which can be very political as well as painful for those very young or sensitive. However, there are ways anyone can engage black culture. One of those ways might be a soul food dinner, treating everyone to delicious Southern cooking. Another way might be to visit a black church one Sunday morning, an environment in which strangers of another ethnicity will be almost certain to be welcomed.
Everybody can benefit from some exposure to black history this February. It doesn't require and special effort. Nor does it require that one be black oneself.
Black literature, written during different periods of time, is an excellent way to learn the attitudes and lifestyles of black people. It is also a good way for youngsters to get a feeling for what it might have been like to live through the struggles of those gone by. An objective historical document can give important detail and context, but sometimes leaves out the feeling of living through the events.
Families might read a novel together, perhaps one each week for the month, given the book's complexity and size. It might be preferable to chose a different poem written by a black poet every morning and read it at the breakfast table. One advantage to either approach is that they automatically lend variety, since each February can bring an entirely fresh reading list.
Many people, especially the young, feel they already have an expertise in black music even though all they know is rap. This actually creates an opportunity, even a responsibility, to add a musical appreciation component to one's February syllabus just in order to shatter such notions. Too many youngsters have no awareness whatsoever of jazz, and fewer still know anything about the blues.
It goes without saying that Februaries are great months for teaching Black History itself. It is important to emphasize that this is also America's story, not just the story of one minority group. This means that anyone, of any ethnic group, has a stake in a month that is for the entire country. Since black people are still living through challenging times, whites and others can use this as an occasion to deepen their understanding.
There's no reason this study needs to be limited to the United States. Africa, whether before, during, or after the Transatlantic Slave Trade, has its own compelling story to tell. Learning about Africa can be crucially important emotionally for black Americans who might have fallen into the assumption that their story begins in chains in the Old South's cotton plantations, rather than in an African context stretching back thousands of years.
Other ethnic groups might not be comfortable looking into this topic, which can be very political as well as painful for those very young or sensitive. However, there are ways anyone can engage black culture. One of those ways might be a soul food dinner, treating everyone to delicious Southern cooking. Another way might be to visit a black church one Sunday morning, an environment in which strangers of another ethnicity will be almost certain to be welcomed.
Everybody can benefit from some exposure to black history this February. It doesn't require and special effort. Nor does it require that one be black oneself.
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