You may know how the celebration of Black History Month was originally created, starting with its precursor in 1926 and being officially proposed as Black History Month in 1970 in the USA. Then followed its recognition in the United Kingdom in 1987, Canada – in 1995, and the Republic of Ireland – in 2014. It spread around the world as the time for commemorating the events and remembering the people that were important in the history of the African diaspora.
Here at Multicultural Kid Blogs we have been celebrating Black History Month in 2013, shortly after we were founded, expressing how it matters to us – bloggers, educators, and parents around the globe. I want to take you on a little trip back to our posts for Black History Month from 2013 to 2019, and invite you to follow our 2019 series where you can find posts on MKB and its members’ websites.
I must point out that, while some of these posts were written specifically for Black History Month, others were written at other times of year, as Black history should be celebrated all year round. For example, we have posts teaching about different countries in Africa, or about important people, like Martin Luther King, who played a vital role in bringing about the rights of modern African American citizens of the United States of America, as well as Nelson Mandela, a prominent leader in South Africa and on the world stage.
So, let’s go back and see what we have shared with you during this month that is important for us all!
Black History Month on Multicultural Kid Blogs
2013
Varya of Creative World of Varya wrote A Tribute to Nelson Mandela.
“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” – Nelson Mandela
2014
Sheila from Pennies of Time shared with us how Volunteering with Kids Develops World Citizens.
“I want my boys to be WORLD CITIZENS… to know that the world is greater than the 15 square miles we drive around in on a regular basis. I want them to embrace, seek out, and appreciate the differences found across our world.”
Elika Mahony from Elika Mahony Music wrote a Musical Tribute to an Inspirations Man: Nelson Mandella.
“When Mandela passed away, I felt the best way I could pay tribute to him is through music.”
Homa Sabet Tavangar of Growing Up Global wrote Teach Kids About Africa As If Our Lives Depend On It.
“Ignorance on such a basic level as each of these examples feeds prejudice, hurts economies that are actually rebounding from their own difficulties (e.g., bookings for safaris in East Africa are way down, let alone a standstill in West Africa’s commerce and investment), and can fuel fanaticism by preventing personal relationships and trust from forming, not to mention the commentary on our global and geographic illiteracy.”
2015
Cindy Ingram from The Art Curator For Kids shared with us the Art of Romare Bearden for Kids.
“Not only was Bearden a prolific and important artist, he was also an educator, scholar, writer, social worker, set and costume designer, cartoonist, and World War II soldier.”
Mary Kinser of Sprout’s Bookshelf wrote about Martin Luther King Day Books.
“This US holiday has become a time not only to honor the contributions and legacy of an amazing man, but also to recognize the fight for equality and civil rights that continues to this day. Help your kiddos understand the history behind the holiday with one or more of these thought-provoking titles.”
You can check what else our bloggers shared in 2015 Black History Month Blog Hop.
2016
Leanna from All Done Monkey shared Resources about George Washington Carver.
“He could have added fortune to fame, but caring for neither, he found happiness and honor in being helpful to the world.”
Diedre Anthony from Are Those Your Kids shared Why Black History Month Matters.
“Black History Month is a month to celebrate accomplishments of great Americans who just happen to be black. Let’s use this month to teach our kids how to persevere through adversity; respect all people despite their race, religion, or creed; and be inspired by amazing inventors and entrepreneurs!”
Frances of Discovering the World Through My Son’s Eyes wrote Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr.
“When I hear the name Martin Luther King, Jr. it invokes in me thoughts of peace, acceptance, equality, tolerance, love, and freedom. These are sentiments that every child should be reminded of when they hear the name of this great Civil Rights leader.”
Ruby Wright of GUBLife wrote 5 Ways to Celebrate Martin Luther King Day with Kids.
“We celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day because it is very special to us. We believe in equality, and this historic activist’s message was always about inclusion and unity so it’s important for us to celebrate him.”
Svenja from Colours of Us wrote Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah.
“With powerful text and bold ink-and-watercolour collages, Emmanuel’s Dream is an inspiring book about resilience, perseverance and overcoming adversity. It gives children the universal message that disability does not mean inability.”
Julie Yeros of Globe Trottin’ Kids wrote The Rainbow Nation Celebrate Diversity Craft.
“South Africa is known as the Rainbow Nation because of its cultural diversity. With close to 55 million people representing a variety of cultures and speaking 11 official languages, you can understand the metaphor.”
You can check what else our bloggers shared in 2016 Black History Month Blog Hop.
2017
Dania Santana from Embracing Diversity shared about Afro-Latino Arturo Schombur: The African Diaspora’s History Keeper.
“Arturo Schomburg found the meaning and purpose of his life by recovering the history of the African diaspora. His life was driven by the belief that “history must restore what slavery took away”, and that passion led him to collect one of the largest libraries of African American books, prints, and artifacts.”
Bethany M. Edwards from Biracial Bookworms wrote Nelson Mandela Day: Celebrate His Legacy.
“Nelson Mandela made an impact fighting for human rights in his country, as well as globally, for 67 years. His life has been an inspiration to the world at large, and this year you can take part.”
Farrah Qazi, the author of Zachariah’s Perfect day, wrote Fun Facts About Somalia.
“Somalia is a country with beautiful wildlife, ancient history, and troubled history of civil war, and plagued with famine and terrorism. Learn more about Somalia in order to better understand and empathize with the Somali refugees who are fleeing to the US and other countries around the world.”
Emma Afif-Watt from Family in Finland wrote Four Ways to Teach Kids About Kenya.
“Kenya is known for its beautiful landscapes as its exotic wildlife. Let’s learn more together about this beautiful country and its people.”
Becky Morales from Kid World Citizen wrote Fun Facts About Ghana Plus Games and Activities.
“Learn a little about West Africa through these 8 fun facts about Ghana. And don’t forget to scroll to the bottom of the page for exciting activities and games that will help you and your kids learn more!”
You can check what else our bloggers shared in 2017 Black History Month Blog Hop.
2018
Becky Morales from Kid World Citizen shared more ways for MLK Day of Service.
“The MLK Day of Service is a day when hundreds of thousands of families and individuals can come together and dedicate time to strengthen their community.”
Varya from Creative World of Varya shared 10 Fun Facts about Tanzania for Kids.
“People take pride in being polite and there are several mandatory greetings. For example, younger people greet older ones by saying “Shikamoo” (which literally translates as “I’m under your feet”), to which older ones always reply “Marahaba” (“Not too many times”).
Wakanyi Hoffman from Blove birds wrote Fun Facts About Kenya.
“At the same time that I discovered that the task of compiling fun facts about Kenya was not going to be a walk in the savannah. I decided instead to find less-known facts of Kenya’s contribution to the global world, things that emerging global citizens can relate to and learn to appreciate about this great African nation, popularly referred to as ‘MagicalKenya’.”
Bethany M. Edwards from Biracial Bookworms wrote Fun Facts About Senegal.
“Senegal is the gateway to West Africa and the heart of culture, customs, a rich and vibrant culture where music propels you forward in your exploration. It also leads the way and sets an example in arenas of human rights, renewable energy, and so much more.”
Joy Sun Bear wrote Fun Facts About Eswatini (Formerly Swaziland).
“I traveled to this beautiful country in Africa a few years ago and met two very good friends, Itembe and Qiyana. They kindly showed me around Eswatini and helped me learn so much about their culture, wildlife, food, traditions, language and more!”
Michelle Hamman from MotherTongues wrote Nelson Mandela’s Names and Legacy.
“Mandela was more to South Africa than just a former president. He showed what can be achieved when you truly believe in the cause. He didn’t give up, fought for freedom, all while maintaining his vision about the humanity of others.”
Jennifer Fischer from The Good Long Road wrote Fun Facts About Rwanda.
“While gorillas remain a major attraction for tourists visiting Rwanda, there is so much more to this small African nation full of wonderful people. Rwanda is full of impressive art, delicious fish, a lovely lake, and more.”
Becky Morales from Kid World Citizen wrote Fun Facts About Malawi and Books to Learn More.
“Malawi is a small, landlocked country in southeastern Africa with diverse wildlife and a gorgeous landscape. Here are 8 fun facts about this beautiful country, plus books to learn more!”
Jennifer Fischer from The Good Long Road wrote Celebrating the Multicultural Classroom with African Pop Music.
“Through music, we expanded our knowledge of Africa. We researched African languages, countries, regions, and religions.”
Karen Akpan from The Mom Trotter wrote Fun Facts for Kids About Nigeria as well as Fun Facts for Kids About Cameroon.
“Nigeria’s main sport is football (many parts of the world call this soccer). Interestingly, the name of the Nigerian national football team is The Super Eagles. The Super Eagles have won the African Cup of Nations three times, and they have made it to the FIFA World Cup Finals six times.”
“The official languages spoken in Cameroon are French and English because Cameroon was colonized by France and Britain. However, there are still up to 230 other languages that are spoken. The languages are divided into seven groups.”
You can check what else our bloggers shared in 2018 Black History Month Blog Hop.
2019
Wakanyi Hoffman from Blove birds wrote Why MLK Day Still Matters to Global Citizens in Africa.
“In order to fully understand the importance of Martin Luther King Day in Africa today, we need to acknowledge the significant influence that earlier leaders in the continent had in the making of the most important leader of black liberation in America.”
Rachel Pieh Jones from Djibouti Jones wrote Fun Facts About Djibouti.
“First of all, you need to know how to pronounce Djibouti. Take off the “D” and say, “Ja-boo-ti.” If you want to sound more local, stress the last syllable. If you want to sound foreign or fit in with an English-speaking group, stress the first syllable and make the “t” sound more like a “d”.
Please keep an eye on our blog for more posts dedicated to Black History Month 2019!
Surely, there is so much more to Black history than one can put in so many posts. If you are following our blog, you can find other posts related to it in our Fun Facts series, Women’s History Month series, and more. It’s important for us not to forget the history by learning from the mistakes made and by recognizing the impact and influence that was made and is still made by Black Africans and descendants of the African diaspora in our world.
Welcome to our fifth annual Black History Month Blog Hop, where together we explore the rich history and cultures of Africa and the African diaspora.
You can also follow our Black History board on Pinterest:
Participating Blogs
Varya
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