Black History Year Round
Black History Month is coming to a close today, but that doesn’t mean you should stop learning new facts or commemorating heroes. African American history should be celebrated year round, in and outside the classroom. And with a few Mindful tips, you can do just that.
Mindful Black History Tips
Listed below are four tips that can help you learn more about Black history.
- Listen to podcasts. Podcasts are a great source of information and entertainment. There are plenty of podcasts hosted by African Americans that discuss important topics of today. You can also seek out podcasts that discuss history. The podcast What You Missed In History In Class features many Black history episodes, including “Belinda Sutton’s Post-enslavement Petitions” and “A Brief History of Redlining.”
- Read books about Africans Americans. Biographies of on famous African Americans give you powerful insight into the struggles and achievements of others. Try reading Coretta Scott King’s posthumous memoir (My Life, My Love, My Legacy), which was released last month. Or consider reading The Blood of Emmett Till, a book about the lynching of a 14-year-old African American boy in 1955.
- Seek out movies on African-American history. If you’re more of a movie buff than a book lover, consider watching movies on famous black figures. One movie you should be on the lookout for is The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. This is a film adaptation of the book The Incredible and Tragic Story of Henrietta Lacks: The Only Known Human With Immortal Cells and stars Oprah Winfrey. Henrietta Lacks’ cancerous cells were taken without her knowledge and used for scientific research. Her cells were used to create the first immortal human cell line. This HBO film will premiere on April 17th.
- Visit an important monument or museum. Are you already planning your spring vacation? If so, consider including important African American landmarks in your plans. Planning on taking a trip to New York? Check out the Harriet Tubman, Duke Ellington, and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. monuments in Harlem. Are you going to be in Washington D.C.? Check out the new National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Bonus: If you are you looking for more historical destinations to visit after Black History Month, consider these suggestions.