February is Black History Month. I don’t believe appreciating and learning about Black culture (or any culture) should be limited to a special month or holiday because the practice is trivializing and condescending. However, many excellent resources and knowledge gained from attending events can be found during these times and added to an ever increasing treasure trove of books, music, videos, recipes, artwork and other materials that can be enjoyed any time.
The following resources are my contributions this year to the celebration of Black History. I hope you enjoy them all year long <3
Elementary Level Books
- Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson
- Blended by Sharon M. Draper
- Stella by Starlight Sharon M. Draper
- Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
- Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson
- Black Women in Science: A Black History Book for Kids (Biographies for Kids) by PhD Kimberly Brown Pellum
- Black Men in Science: A Black History Book for Kids (Biographies for Kids) by Bryan Patrick Avery
- The History of Juneteenth: A History Book for New Readers by Arlisha Norwood PhD
- Black Inventors: 15 Inventions that Changed the World by Kathy Trusty Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega
Middle School Level Books
- The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Moore
- Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson
- After Tupac and D Foster by Jacqueline Woodson
- The Skin I’m In by Sharon G. Flake
- The Life I’m In by Sharon FlakeTight by Torrey Maldonado
- A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore Ramée
High School Level Books
- Invisible Son by Kim Johnson
- The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas and Amandla Stenberg
- Roots: The Enhanced Edition: The Saga of an American Family by Alex Haley
- Black Birds in the Sky: The Story and Legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre by Brandy Colbert
- Black Fortunes: The Story of the First Six African Americans Who Survived Slavery and Became Millionaires by Shomari Wills