From a Pre-K student learning to embrace their identity and take pride in what makes them unique, to a 4th grader discovering the Great Migration’s impact on New York City and the cultural brilliance of Harlem Renaissance artists, writers, and musicians, to students exploring the power of the Black press and how literacy became a revolutionary tool in the fight against slavery — these are just a few glimpses into a district in New York’s Black Studies curriculum.
Amid a nationwide effort to erase critical aspects of American history related to race and identity — including Black history — from school curricula, the Black Studies as the Study of the World: A Black Studies Curriculum serves as a step forward. This new Pre-K-12 curriculum is designed to provide an honest, culturally diverse education that centers Black history and perspectives. The curriculum is publicly accessible for schools to use throughout the country and was developed by the Education Equity Action Coalition — a group of educators, nonprofits, government leaders, and advocates — and the Black Education Research Center, to ensure curriculum acknowledges the history and contributions of Black people, from early Black societies through the present.
At the core of any curriculum is the school community — its culture, educators, and the materials that reflect the diversity of its students. A district’s adoption of this Black Studies curriculum is one example of prioritizing and advancing Black history in the classroom, and similar efforts are taking shape across the state to support educators in teaching Black history, including in Buffalo.
The Center for K-12 Black History and Racial Literacy Education is also leading the way on a statewide and national level. The center offers a Teaching Black History Micro-Credential, which helps educators develop stronger pedagogical skills to teach Black history effectively, counter misinformation, and combat its erasure. It also provides free resources for educators and others interested in Black history and race, including the Black History Nerds Saturday School program.
While 12 states have mandated Black history in K-12 public schools, many also have laws that limit what can be taught. At this critical moment for public education, states and districts across New York and the nation can look to these examples as models for teaching a fuller, more truthful history and ensuring it expands beyond the month of February. Moreover, New York State has a significant opportunity to lead nationally and protect Black history in the classroom by incentivizing local districts to implement these such resources and by providing state funding for educator micro-credentials.
Black History Month is a time to honor a legacy of strength and resistance while continuing the fight for justice today. It serves as a reminder that true progress means breaking down barriers and ensuring every child has access to a high-quality, culturally relevant education — one that teaches honest history, celebrates those who came before, and empowers the next generation to shape history.
Stay tuned as we share more resources on the role of Black history in the classroom. Black history isn’t just for one month — it’s fundamental to education and should be taught and celebrated all year long.