Teaching Black History as American History: Videos and Lessons to Engage Students

Dive into the past, present, and future this month and every month by bringing powerful student voices and essential history into your classroom with this curation of engaging resources. Begin with a playlist of youth-created media, highlighting young Black creators sharing their personal stories, perspectives on history, and visions for change today. Then, dive into a five-part video series on the history of reparations in California, exploring the destruction of Black communities and the ongoing fight for justice. Finally, spark critical discussions with an Above the Noise YouTube playlist, tackling civil rights issues that remain relevant. 

These resources offer fresh ways to connect students with American history and its impact on our present and future.

Black Youth Perspectives

From political cartoons to podcasts and personal narratives, students all across the country are using media to tell stories and share their views. Explore Black youth perspectives on history and the change they want to see in the present.

Reparations in California 

With this five-part video series from KQED and accompanying lesson plans, bring the history of the reparations movement in America into your classroom and explore a part of California history that is rarely discussed: the hostility toward Black settlements, and how thriving Black communities were systematically torn apart and turned into ghost towns. 

Black History All Year Long with Above the Noise

Black History is American History—a truth Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. championed year-round. While best known for his 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech, his vision extended beyond racial equality. He advocated for economic justice, anti-racism, higher wages, affordable housing, environmental protection, and challenging policies that favored the wealthy over the poor. In honor of his legacy, explore the Above the Noise playlist, which delves into the issues he fought for and encourages us to reflect on his impact.