Celebrate Women This Black History Month

Historian Carter G. Woodson established the first Negro History Week in 1926—a celebration that later became Black History Month [2]. The Association for the Study of African American Life and History, a group founded by Woodson, selects a new theme for Black History Month each year. This year’s theme is "Black Women in American Culture and History. [3]"

Teaching Tolerance offers several activities about African-American women designed for K-12 students. Many high school and middle school students have heard about Rosa Parks. But many strong, courageous women came before her in the civil rights movement [4]. They included important figures like Frances Watkins Harper [5] and Ida B. Wells [6]. For older students, we also offer a discussion guide for Sexism in the Civil Rights Movement [7]. Meanwhile, elementary students can read about Susie King Taylor’s [8] contributions during the Civil War or participate in a trading card activity [9] that honors true greatness. 

These will just get you started discussing black women in American culture and history. That discussion can—and should—take you through the year.