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0217 FEBRUARY
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celebrate bl ack
history
all year ?e louisiana citizens who came before us fought very hard socially, legally, and spiritually to desegregate many systems. ?erefore it seems silly that we have to segregate our month
s into proper historical categories. i vote we integrate our months and recognize the historical contributions of louisiana african
americans all year. ?is does not mean we do away with february as black history month. it is necessary to help some people be deliberate and intentional in honoring african american accomplishments. black history month began with ?negro history week,? a concerted effort by carter g. woodson, the second african american to graduate from harvard, to get schools teaching african american history. since 1976, every u.s. president has officially designated the month of february as black history month. while this designation is a positive move, teaching black history does not have to be relegated to one month a year. parents, you can put on your history caps and teach your kids the many contributions of african americans. and, you have a special gift! we are in louisiana, where african american accomplishments abound. connect to your child?s interests start with celebrating louisianians who have done great things that relate to your child?s hobbies. if your child is interested in the arts, teach her about clementine hunter , a world-renowned folk artist who painted her life around melrose plantation. if your child loves sports, find youtube clips of doug williams or paul ?tank? younger , both trailblazers in the nfl. if your child is spiritual, share about henriette delille and juliette gaudin , two free women of color in 19 th century new orleans who started the second religious order for women of color in the united states and educated free and enslaved african american children. and if your child digs science, show them the brilliant norbert rillieux , one of the earliest chemical engineers who revolutionized sugar processing, or madame c.j. walker , the inventor of many hair products who cultivated a million dollar beauty industry. diversif y your book collection when you go to the library, look for children?s books about pioneering african americans. extend your reach beyond dr. king and include such heroes as lonnie johnson, george moses horton, fannie lou hamer, trombone shorty, langston hughes, effa manley, sojourner truth, bessie coleman, and john lewis. for a more complete list, visit brparents.com . see the sights our state is rich with landmarks that are living history sites. spend some time as a family on a road trip or even a walk downtown and use our ?places to visit? as a guide. ?ere?s something special about walking on the same grounds that held momentous occasions. no matter the month or the season, these destinations tell stories of brave men and women who stood up for what?s right. teaching our children the history of our nation, our state, and our city is critical when raising the next generation. let?s teach the whole history all year. we may have to do a little research in order to include black history throughout the year, but it will be worth it when our children have a rich, multidimensional understanding of historical contributions. ? 50 brparents.com | february 2017
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