National Geographic Museum Blog

Did you know that W.E.B DuBois was the first African American to ever earn a Ph.D., and from Harvard nonetheless?  Beyond this he rose to national attention for his devotion to attaining equal rights for African Americans, particularly by fiercely opposing Booker T. Washington and his support of Jim Crow separation.  He also became the head of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), as well as a published author for works like Philadelphia Negro, Souls of Black Folk. He also received an honorary doctorate from Fisk University. His books and doctoral hood are on display in our exhibit!

Rent or purchase movies that feature story lines about famous blacks in America. Watching films like Roots or Amistad may help explain slavery in a way your teens may understand. Movies such as Introducing Dorothy Dandridge and Malcolm X offer an in-depth look into the loves of prominent black Americans.

Martin Luther King Celebration Quilt

Diane promotes self esteem as youngsters participate in this preschool craft activity.

Materials: Construction paper and pens, markers, or crayons and yarn.

Description: For a quilt, cut squares out of paper. Ask each child to draw a picture of themselves and ask them what they want to be when they grow up. Write what they say below the picture.  Then put all the squares together and tie them with yarn.  Use blank colors to make a border and fillers.  Title the quilt, “What I want To Be When I Grow Up“.
I hung this up during Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s. birthday and the parents loved it!

(Taken from: http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/black-history.htm)

Black History: Jackie Robinson
During this preschool activity from Elizabeth O. children discuss their favorite sport, build vocabulary (conflict, unfairly, athlete, league) and listen to the story “Young Jackie Robinson, Baseball Hero” (A troll-First-Start Biography).

Materials: Child size t- shirt, white butcher block paper, picture of Jackie Robinson, blue paint, sponge letters (D o d g e r s).
In advance teachers:
1.  Trace t-shirt on white butcher block paper. Cut out enough for all of your students.
2. Use sponge letters to spell out ‘Dodgers’ across the t-shirt.
3.  Glue a picture of Jackie Robinson in the middle of the shirt.

Description: Begin this lesson by asking children, ” What kind of sports / games do you like to play?” Discuss their favorite sport activities. Younger children may need pictures of different types of sports to open a discussion. After sharing their favorite activities tell the children:
We are going to read a story today about a man who played baseball a long time ago. His name is Jackie Robinison. Jackie loved playing baseball. He even won a very special prize for playing baseball so well. Jackie had a lot of friends and fans, however there were some people who did not like Jackie because he was black (or African American).
Read the story and pause at points you feel are important for your students to discuss.

Re-read the story if you feel it is necessary and after ask “wh” questions. For example; “What other sports did Jackie like to play? What did Jackie do when he was called mean names?”  Invite children to make a Jackie Robinson Baseball t-shirt. Ask the children to sponge paint Dodgers across t-shirt and glue on a picture of Jackie Robinson.

Comments: Make the paper t-shirts a little wider so that lettering can fit. You may have to paint the letters in a semi-circle shape to make sure they fit.

(Taken from: http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/black-history.htm)

Celebrate black history month with a variety of children’s activities. Why not take an hour and paint or draw famous figures in African American history?

This site (http://fun.familyeducation.com/slideshow/black-history-month/60270.html) has a variety of figures for your children to practice with. Simple print out and color in. Or use the two African American history coloring pages we suggest here. Do you know who they are without reading the descriptions?

Did You Know?
Did you know that music played a large role in the civil rights movement? Artists like Etta James and Louis Armstrong were able to break racial barriers with their extraordinary musical talent and bring both black and white Americans together. President Obama recently acknowledged music’s corner stone role by stating to ABC News that, “The civil rights movement was a movement sustained by music.”  Not only did the African American musicians of that time inspire a generation to change, but they also led the way for other black musicians such as Prince and Aretha Franklin.

You’ll find Frederick Douglass’ second autobiography My Bondage, My Freedom at the upcoming American I Am exhibit.

Did you know?

Frederick Douglass played an extraordinary role in uncovering the trials and tribulations of life as a slave in his autobiography My Bondage, My Freedom.  In this story he depicts in detail his personal experience of  being a slave who eventually won his freedom. Douglass also illustrates daily life and the roles race and freedom played in antebellum America.

You’ll find a Yoruba Shango dance wand at the upcoming American I Am exhibit.

Did you know?

The Yoruba, a community of Africans inhabiting parts of Nigeria, are devoted to many gods. One in particular is Shango, the god of thunder and lighting.  The Yoruba believe that Shango was once a human king that transcended his current position and became a god.  To appease this king-turned-god the Yoruba hold an annual festival in order to honor him. At this festival a dance wand would be carried during the procession. It is usually adorned with a female devotee holding the sign on Shango, which is a double-sided ax.

You’ll find a Gourd Banjo at the upcoming American I Am exhibit.

Did you know?
When you think about a banjo player, most often the image of country Americana pops into mind, right? Well, in fact the banjo is native to Africa! The banjo, which was sometimes made out of the hollowed-out body of a gourd, was originally brought over to America by enslaved Africans.  Thomas Jefferson even noted in Notes on the State of Virginia: “The instrument proper to them [Slaves] is the Banjar, which they brought hither from Africa, and which is the original of the guitar, its chords being precisely the four lower chords of the guitar.”

You’ll find a Senufo chief helmet mask at the upcoming American I Am exhibit.

Did you know?

The Senufo tribe is made up of over 1,000,000 farming people whose geographical stretch reaches over 4 African countries. Within the tribe there are members whose sole responsibility is to live in isolation from the rest of the community and master the artistry of mask making.  These individuals are considered to be of high status, partly due to the significance of these masks and partly because of the artisan’s powers of communication. The artisans and their masks, which are usually a representation of a hybrid between human and animal, are said to have the power to help open a dialogue between the living and their dead ancestors.  These masks are also used as a function of the Poro society. The Poro’s are a male society whose primary job is to educate the younger men on their community history as well as the responsibilities that will be expected of them as they grow older.