Empowering Lessons from Black Women in Education: Insights We Can All Embrace

When talking to elementary educators at conferences, I often notice that discussions about Black history focus mainly on Martin Luther King Jr., the Civil Rights Movement, and the enslavement of Black people. Many educators, worried about backlash from families and administrators, stick to these familiar stories. They often feel that the Black history picture books I recommend are not suitable for young learners.

As a Black woman educator who has taught Black history in elementary schools, I see things differently.

I’ve always believed in creating space for Black history in our classrooms. In her book, We Refuse: A Forceful History of Black Resistance, historian Kellie Carter Jackson emphasizes that Black women often stand as protectors of their history and culture. I am inspired by the Black women educators who came before me. They have shaped my approach to teaching Black history.

In the 1940s, educators Madeline Morgan and Bessie S. King developed a unit to ensure Black history was taught in Chicago public schools. They were laying the groundwork to protect and elevate Black history.

Similarly, Jane Dabney Shackelford and Helen Adele Whiting created books that allowed young students to see themselves represented in literature. Lucy Craft Laney celebrated Emancipation Day with her students, while Mary McLeod Bethune organized events featuring Black artists at her school. These figures and many others worked to honor Black culture and history.

These women focused on helping students develop their racial identities and understand their culture. By learning from their practices, we can ensure that Black history is an essential aspect of elementary education.

Here are three ways we can work together to protect Black history in our classrooms:

1. Build a Library of Black History Picture Books

When educators ask how to start integrating Black history, I always suggest they read picture books. There are many available that highlight important Black figures and events.

For instance, you can introduce students to Ethel L. Payne, a pioneering journalist, through The Power of Her Pen by Lesa Cline-Ransome. Another impactful book is Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre by Carole Boston Weatherford, which tells the story of the Greenwood community in Oklahoma.

Authors like Leah Henderson, Alleanna Harris, Lauren Semmer, Vashti Harrison, and Alice Faye Duncan create beautiful stories that reflect the experiences of Black people.

2. Know Your Curriculum

Many elementary curricula cover only a few Black historical figures and events. It’s important to understand your curriculum well so you can find ways to incorporate Black history in different subjects. For example, in a science unit on animals, discuss scientists like Charles Henry Turner or Earyn McGee, who have made significant contributions to their fields.

3. Educate Yourself

To effectively teach Black history, you need to understand it yourself. Explore documentaries, podcasts, books, and online resources. The National Museum of African American History and Culture’s Learning Lab offers artifacts and learning activities that can help you and your students engage with primary sources.

Look for local Black histories through museums and libraries, which can provide students with insight into the rich history in their own communities.

These approaches will enhance our teaching practices. By working together, we can ensure that Black history is taught with the respect and depth it deserves.

As Carter Jackson writes, “Protection is powerful, beautiful, and sacrificial because protection is love.” When we genuinely care about something, we protect it. Let’s follow the lead of Black women educators—past, present, and future—and embrace this vital work wholeheartedly.