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Making Black History Month Last All Year
Copyright 2006 by Jeffery Bradley - All Rights Reserved --
Contact Info
The published version of "How to Make Black History Month Last All Year!"
purchased direct from the publisher here.
Here Are 5 Tips
For Starters
Just as our children study white
America’s culture and history throughout the year in schools, we can
help them do the same for Black history. Though it involves a little
time and energy, the benefits of strong intelligent children will be
our rewards of the future.
With a little bit of time
management, you can easily create a year long commitment to keeping
Black History and culture alive in your family. It’s best to plan
your weeks and months in advance so everyone can have something to
look forward to. Get a calendar or planner and make sure you
include everyone when setting dates and times.
Let everyone know what activities
you’d like to plan and get as much input from them as possible. For
instant, you might tell the children that you need to add more
cultural events to the schedule and then give them a couple of ideas
to choose from. You’d might be surprise at the ideas and input you
will get.
As you go through the tips below,
think about how you can add them to your daily life. These
activities can last anywhere from a few hours to a whole day.
Anyway it goes, this is excellent family time.
Here are some family tips and
activities to help you motivate your children to develop an ongoing
interest in black history.
1. Visit An African American Bookstore Once A
Month
- Most African American bookstores
are stocked with excellent books written by African Americans
for African Americans. They cover all subjects ranging from
history, poetry, biographies, how-to, health, to various
religions.
- Children should be encouraged to
spend their money on books about them.
- Parents should develop a book
budget to make sure money is available.
- If you can’t find any African
American bookstores in your area, get online. There are
hundreds of great African American Internet bookstores that can
ship books to your doorstep.
2. Visit The Library At Least Once Every Two
Weeks
- Our libraries are free and should
be used as often as possible, not only because we pay for them
with our taxes but also because of the wealth of knowledge they
contain.
- If your child is old enough, get
them a library card and teach them how to use it.
- Ask the librarian for a list of
African American authors and check out as many African American
books as you possibly can.
- Refer to the “How To Use Your Local
Library To Find Children’s Books by African American Authors”
booklet from the Inspire! Parenting Series, see page 23 for
ordering information.
3. Visit Black Art Galleries
- Visits to African American art
galleries can help children reaffirm their existence by visually
seeing the beauty and richness of our history.
- Adorn your home with African art,
pictures, and artifacts that constantly remind your children and
visitors of our beautiful culture.
- Parents should be prepared to
answer or find answers any questions your child may spring upon
you about African American art.
4. Visit A Slave Plantation
- Take a pre-spring vacation and tour
the archeological digs in progress at Mt. Vernon and Monticello.
- Examine the remains of slave
quarters and farm buildings.
- Examine the tools, toys, and
household furnishing the slaves used to survive.
5. Wear It Proud
- Seek out stores and shops that make
or sell hats, t-shirts, neckties, dresses, African clothing, and
sports wear that proudly display images of our culture and
history.
- Purchasing cultural items sends a
message of support for those who dedicate their talents to our
communities.
- Talk to your child about why you
bought the clothing and why it is important that they wear it.
- Not only does this help spread the
word about our history, but it constantly reminds children of
their roots.
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