We dream of, and work toward, a day that Black and Indigenous people's history is taught fully integrated in all homes and classrooms as an equal part of American history. Today, we recognize Black History Month and honor the many achievements and contributions of Black Americans. Too many have fought, and died, striving for social and racial justice in our past and it is up to us to work together to change our future! By looking back at our past, we can analyze events and think critically about present-day challenges and injustices.
“The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled with adversity to achieve full citizenship in American society.” Learn more at www.africanamericanhistorymonth.gov.
Our Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Kali Baird, together with Librarian Karlyn Strand, offer the following articles as helpful to learning about our past and planning for a more just, equitable, and peaceful future.
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First Day: An Interpretive Dance Recalling Little Rock Nine of 1957 by Kendi Jones
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"The Hill We Climb" 2021 Inauguration Day poem by Amanda Gorman
- Why We Need Black History Month—Especially This Year by Coshandra Dillard, Teaching Tolerance
- Diversifying Your Classroom Book Collections. Avoid these 7 Pitfalls by Kara Newhouse, KQED Mindshift
- The Brown Bookshelf for young readers
- Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson; recipient of 2021 Coretta Scott King Author and Illustrator Awards
- Resources for Race, Equity, Anti-Racism, and Inclusion by Diverse Books
Lastly, if you would like to visit an African American History Museums virtually, here is a list of those offering online tours.