PHM Students & Staff Mark Black History Month | Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation Skip to main content

PHM Students & Staff Mark Black History Month

2nd gr. Horizon student gives the thumbs up in front of his class created Black History Month quilt
2nd gr. Horizon student gives the thumbs up in front of his class created Black History Month quilt

P-H-M kicked off Black History Month on Monday, February 1st by sharing a post on the district’s Facebook page that explained the origin’s of Black History Month ...

 

Did you know that Carter G. Woodson celebrated Black History Week for the first time in February 1926? Woodson (the 2nd African American to receive a doctorate from Harvard, after W.E.B. DuBois) dedicated his career to lobbying for the establishment of Black History Month as a nationwide recognition. He's known as the "Father of Black History" because in February 1926 he sent out a press release announcing the nation's first Negro History Week. He chose February because the month contained the birthdays of both President Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass (an escaped slave who became a prominent abolitionist, author, & public speaker). Lincoln’s birthday was February 12; Douglass (as a former slave, hadn’t known his actual birthday) marked his on February 14. The result is now Black History Month celebrated by communities, schools, colleges & universities, and organizations nationwide. Click here to learn more here. 

 

graphic of Frederick Douglass & Abe Lincoln

 

This historical factoid was the first of many we shared throughout the month. For the rest of February, we shared historical facts about Black Hoosiers:

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In our 15 schools, students and staff have been learning about historical events and leaders that made valuable contributions to U. S. History. As P-H-M takes another conscious step forward in the district’s effort to incorporate history of all peoples', races and cultures into the curriculum, teachers and staff across the district found ways to make this happen. Here are just some examples:

 

Videos:

Horizon 2nd graders make a quilt inspired by Black History Month. Click to watch the video below ...

 

Grissom Middle School student teacher teaches students what diversity representation means. Click to watch the video below ...

 

Schmucker Libriarian arranged a virtual author talk for students. Click to watch the video below ...

 

These are links to web stories and photos of other school projects: