28 Days for Black History

It's that time of year again when we focus on the efforts of African-Americans that have paved the way for our lives today.  We take a look back at our history because as my Mama use to say, "you won't know where you're going unless you know where you've been."

We appreciate the work of great African-American artists, singers, dancers, actors, and sport figures.  We recite famous poetry, revisit great inventions, and learn about the plight of our leaders.

Please feel free to join us on our 28 days for Black History Journey.  I will be posting Black history activities, literature resources, and links to other awesome sites, Monday-Friday (unless the unexpected happens) throughout the month of February.

One of my favorite books to kick off Black History Month with is Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters by Andrea Davis Pinkney.  This is a beautifully written book about the lives of some truly great African-American Women.  The list includes Sojourner Truth, Biddy Mason, Harriet Tubman, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Mary McLeod Bethune (my favorite), Ella Josephine Baker, Dorothy Irene Height, Rosa Parks, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Shirley Chisholm.  I use this book as a read aloud because I still enjoy hearing the stories and I want my kiddos to focus on the story and not their phonetics.

To read more about this book Elizabeth Kennedy over at About Children's Books gives the best review of  Let It Shine that I've seen thus far.

Our first great Black Woman Freedom Fighter to study will be Sojourner Truth.

She was born into slavery in Hurley, New york around 1797 as Isabella Baumfree (her slave-name).  She was an abolitionist, a minister, and a women's rights activist.  She died in Battle Creek, Michigan on November 26,1883.

For more about Sojourner Truth, activities, and to see the monument erected in Battle Creek, Michigan in her honor please visit the Sojourner Truth dot org website.

For the little ones, there's a coloring page at Crayola for Sojourner Truth.

Additionally, the History Channel has a nice collection of Black History videos and I just love the graphics and information at Biography dot com.

There's plenty to do and learn so check back daily to see what we are up too and let us know how you are celebrating Black History Month.

Thanks for stopping by!

~Blessings~

Claudea B.