Black History Month

The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity

"The black family has been a topic of study in many disciplines—history, literature, the visual arts and film studies, sociology, anthropology, and social policy. Its representation, identity, and diversity have been reverenced, stereotyped, and vilified from the days of slavery to our own time. (The) family offers a rich tapestry of images for exploring the African American past and present."

source: Association for the Study of African American Life and History

Photo Credits: "Family in Front of New Home." The American Mosaic: The African American Experience, ABC-CLIO, 2021, africanamerican.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/1674853. Accessed 14 Jan. 2021.

What is African American History Month?

African American History Month, sometimes called Black History Month, celebrates the history and achievements of African Americans. Historian Carter G. Woodson initiated the first official recognition of Black history in 1926.

General Resources

Association for the Study of African American Life and History 2021 Black History Month Virtual Festival

Month-long calendar of virtual events for families, including events on weekends to share with families. Majority of online events are free and open to the public. Share this calendar with more information and links for families to join virtual events.

Black Freedom Struggle in the United States: Challenges and Triumphs in the Pursuit of Equality

Primary sources selected by ProQuest. These resources are browseable by subject and time period, and include primary resources such as FBI records. Teachers also have access to homework examples and teaching resources.

Black History Month - Resources from Discovery Education

Discovery Education curated collection of resources for Black History Month. Filterable by level. accessible via Launchpad

Coretta Scott King Book Award Recipients

The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are given annually to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values. The award commemorates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and honors his wife, Mrs. Coretta Scott King, for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace and world brotherhood. [Source: American Library Association]

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture

This site allows users to explore virtual exhibitions and online collections through 3D models, search artifacts by topic or object type, and gather information about the different exhibits at the museum. Use the menu to explore, and check out the stories from NMAAHC staff about their most powerful pieces in the collection.