How to Make a Difference During Black History Month

Black History Month is a time to renew your commitment to a just society by finding ways to make a difference. In February, the entire country remembers the struggles and celebrates the achievements of African Americans. By placing a priority during this time on raising awareness and mobilizing others to care, you contribute to a better future for all races.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Educate yourself about African American history. Start with slavery and pay special attention to the Civil Rights Movement. Really think about what freedom and equality mean during Black History Month.
2. Teach kids about important events in African American history. Make them come alive through pictures, role playing and storytelling. Take your children to the library and check out books about African American struggles and victories.
3. Ask at your local library or community center what they're doing for Black History Month. Then find ways to participate in the events so you can educate your community about the actions of African Americans in history.
4. Write letters to the editors of local and national publications about Black History Month. Point out the obstacles blacks faced in the past and how they've changed or are still the same. Tell people how their struggles are still going on today.
5. Donate to an organization that helps African Americans. There's still no memorial in this country honoring the great work of Martin Luther King and Black History Month is a great time to promote that cause.
6. Create a webpage on your Internet website that educates your visitors about Black History Month. In particular, make a connection between the struggles of the past that are still going on in the present. Provide links and donation buttons to organizations such as the National Urban League and the NAACP.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider giving a lecture series during Black History Month at a library or community center that touches on different aspects of African American history.