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Guest Post by Cheryl Wills, NY1 News Anchor and author of Emancipated, My Family’s Fight for Freedom and The Emancipation of Grandpa Sandy Wills |
Hating people because of their color is wrong. And it doesn’t matter which color does the hating. It’s just plain wrong.
– Muhammad Ali
In celebrating Black History Month, we honor the important role that African Americans play in strengthening the diverse cultural fabric of our nation. To understand the Black Experience is to understand the American Experience. As our neighborhoods and communities grow more diverse, understanding people of other backgrounds becomes more and more important.
To help students appreciate our nation’s great diversity during Black History Month, have them do one of the following projects on an African American who they admire (it can be a public figure or a community member like their neighbor or teacher). With all of the great achievements of African Americans, it should be easy for kids to find someone to research.
- For students that like to write:
Write a poem about how this person has affected you, your community, or the world for the better. - For students who like to use technology:
Create a blog and write a post about why you admire this person. - For students who like art:
Design a poster that highlights five key facts about the person of your choosing.
These activities give students the chance to express themselves in their own unique way, while learning valuable lessons about diversity.