black history month
Every February, America recognizes the struggles, achievements and contributions that the African-American community has made to honor its ancestry and recognize the advancements and innovations that have shaped our lives and society. Its founding was aimed at increasing education and awareness on the subject at a time when forces actively tried to write famous figures such as Crispus Attucks and Harriet Tubman out of the history books. Even though this annual celebration may seem familiar as an annual tradition, its official acceptance is relatively young and faced scrutiny and criticism including by those who were responsible for its very foundation.
If you are the parent of a school-age child you know the month of February means its time for a Black History Month project. While many students may choose to profile the life of those fallback figures that everyone already knows about, consider teaching your child about these African American pioneers.