To the St. E's Community,
The first recognized holiday aimed at educating school children about Black history began 126 years ago when Mary Church Terrell (a community organizer and educator in Washington, D.C.) petitioned the school board to recognize February 14th as ‘Douglass Day,’a day focused on the life and legacy of Frederick Douglass. In September 1915, Dr. Carter G. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH). Together, they published the first scholarly journal dedicated to sharing historical achievements of Black Americans. Dr. Woodson famously stated “If a race has no history, if it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated.” In 1926, Dr. Woodson announced the first Negro History Week, and in 1970, Kent State University became the first institution to celebrate Black History Month. In 1970, President Ford was the first President to issue a Black History Month proclamation for the month of February, and every President since has followed suit.
Black history is everyone’s history and part of teaching students to be critical thinkers is teaching them to ask who is writing history and whose voices are missing? In order to dismantle the systems of oppression that exist, our children must learn all parts of history including oppressive systems like slavery, police brutality, mass incarceration, etc. However, they must also learn the beauty that is Black history, Black excellence, and Black joy. Our lives would look different today without the innovation of Black inventors and entrepreneurs! For example, the three light traffic system was founded by Garret Morgan, Madam CJ Walker created the first hair straightener, and let's not forget that George Washington Carver brought us the joy of peanut butter. Our children are learning how resilient, how powerful, how sacred and how extraordinary the Black community is. We must recognize that Black history is American history all year round, and the month of February serves as an opportunity to pause and focus on dismantling systems of oppression through education.
As we enter the month of February, we encourage you all to have conversations with your family about Black resilience, Black joy, Black history. What does Black history mean to you? Our students will be engaging in multiple learning opportunities this month, but there are so many opportunities for the learning to continue at home. If your family identifies as Black, share about your family history, your legacy, what it means to show up authentically as you. If your family identifies as Indigenous or as Non-Black People of Color, discuss the ways in which our communities have come together and stood up for one another historically and in the present day. If your family is white, talk with your children and consider what being a co-conspirator really means, and what you all can do to elevate the voices of Black Americans this month and beyond.
Above all, remember this is a time to celebrate and honor the Black American community. Below you will find a list of resources to use at home with your children and a link for local events this month to celebrate Black History in Denver.
With love & gratitude,
Nikki Winans
Director of Equity & Belonging
Parent/Guardian Resources:
Talking With Children About Racism, Police Brutality and Protests
Talking to Kids About Police Violence
Having 'The Talk': Expert Guidance On Preparing Kids For Police Interactions : NPR
Black History Month: How to Teach Your Kids & Yourself – SheKnows
Teaching Your Child About Black History |… | PBS KIDS for Parents
Denver Black History Month Events:
