At KidsGardening, we celebrate Black History Month every February. It honors the legacy of African Americans, their role in shaping U.S. history, and the oppression they endured.
In 1926, Carter G. Woodson established “Negro History Week,” to commemorate the accomplishments of African Americans during the second week of February, which coincided with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Since 1976, the entire month of February has been recognized as Black History Month.
Woodson also founded The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), which shares a theme for each year. In 2022, the theme is Black Health And Wellness.
“This theme acknowledges the legacy of not only Black scholars and medical practitioners in Western medicine, but also other ways of knowing (e.g., birthworkers, doulas, midwives, naturopaths, herbalists, etc.) throughout the African Diaspora. The 2022 theme considers activities, rituals and initiatives that Black communities have done to be well.”
KidsGardening sees the garden as a powerful place to teach about Black history year-round, not just in February. By weaving diversity, inclusion, equity, and justice into everyday learning, we can help cultivate an appreciation for Black History and how it has influenced our lives.
As garden educators, we can teach Black History when working with kids by:
- Reading anti-racist books by Black authors that center Black characters
- Acknowledging the origins of foods that were introduced by Africans (e.g., black-eyed peas and okra)
- Recognizing the accomplishments of Black leaders in food and agriculture, such as George Washington Carver, who spearheaded methods for soil regeneration
- Teaching students about the history of U.S. agriculture and the role that Africans and African Americans had in food production
Check out these garden and food-related Black History resources:
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Farming While Black: Soul Fire Farm’s Practical Guide to Liberation on the Land by Leah Penniman
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Black History Month Food and Farm Justice resource lists – HEAL
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High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America – on Netflix or in print
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Black History Month at Home – New York Botanical Garden
Learn more about Black History Month with the resources below:
