Engage your students this month and throughout the year with resources and programs that honor and celebrate African American history and culture.

Created for our 2019 We the People children’s literature conference, this curated list includes over thirty highly recommended biographies about extraordinary people who faced their own challenges and worked to bring social justice and opportunity to others. The books were published between 2017 – 2019.

Explore telegrams and letters to President Kennedy from influential civil rights leaders Roy Wilkins, Bayard Rustin, Whitney Young, John Lewis, A. Philip Randolph, James Farmer, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Includes a short biography and photograph for each leader.

The Kennedy Library and GBH partnered for an exclusive preview and discussion of the PBS American Experience documentary The American Diplomat. Ambassador (Ret.) Aurelia Brazeal, Director Leola Calzolai-Stewart and Duke professor of history Adriane Lentz-Smith discussed the film and explored the experience of African American diplomats serving during the Cold War with American Experience executive producer Cameo George. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US Representative to the United Nations, and Patricia Harrison, President and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, introduce the program.

Did you miss the program celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day? You can now watch the video through February 23rd! With vivid costumes and uplifting energy, the multicultural Benkadi Drum and Dance group performs traditional West African rhythm and movements to celebrate the spirit of coming together. Singing, dancing, drumming, and a folktale bring these traditions to life for students of all ages!

In honor of the 60th anniversary of the last year of the Kennedy administration, the Festival will feature performances of Kennedy campaign songs and elements focusing on democratic values during periods of national transition for past presidents and the people of the United States. Select portions of the Festival will be available after the program ends for online viewing in your classroom!

Civics for All of US, an initiative of the National Archives that promotes civic literacy and engagement, provides live, interactive distance learning programs and student webinars, and virtual professional development offerings for teachers across the country. Presented by National Archives educators, these programs draw upon our country's vast national holdings to promote the knowledge and skills students need for civic engagement in the 21st century.

The Writers on Earth Competition, in solidarity with The Earthshot Prize, encouraged young people across the world to write to their nation’s leader and express the importance of tackling environmental issues. Exploring topics from destructive quarrying to the impact of carbon emissions on our oceans, these winning letters serve as a reminder that forward-looking solutions are the key to preserving our natural world.