BHM Lesson

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Akili Academy

BLACK HISTORY MONTH HOMEROOM SLIDES

Feel free to make a copy of this slide deck and share a slide each day of Black History
Month. There are some additional slides at the end so you can choose who you would

like to highlight in your class.

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CARTER G. WOODSON

Carter G Woodson is known as the “Father of Black History.”
In 1926, he launched Black History Week. Woodson believed
that Black people should be proud of their heritage and all
Americans should understand the largely overlooked
achievements of Black Americans.

In 1976, American presidents expanded Woodson’s idea to
designate the month of February as Black History Month.

Woodson’s legacy now lives on every February when schools
across the nation study Black American history, empowering
Black Americans and educating others on the achievements
of Black Americans.

Each slide this month will feature someone new to learn
about.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1ST | Black History Month Spotlight

Open Ended

How do you think Carter G Woodson's work affects your life today?

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JOHN LEGEND

John Legend is a well-known musician, actor,
composer, father, husband, etc. He has won 12
Grammy Awards and received 33 Grammy Award
nominations. He is one of 17 people who have ever
won all four BIG awards: an Emmy, a Grammy, an
Oscar, and a Tony. This makes him an EGOT winner.
He is the first Black man to do so! He was also the
youngest person ever to achieve this.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2ND | Black History Month Spotlight

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MISTY COPELAND

Misty Copeland is an American
ballerina, born in Kansas City, MO. She
is a ballet dancer for the American
Ballet Theatre, one of the three major
ballet companies in the United States.

On June 30, 2015, Misty Copeland
became the first Black woman to be
promoted to principal (lead) dancer in
American Ballet Theatre’s 75-year
history.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3RD | Black History Month Spotlight

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ROSA PARKS

Rosa Parks stood up for African Americans- by sitting down. Rosa
Parks was a civil rights activist who refused to give up her seat to
a white passenger on a segregated bus in Montgomery. The bus
driver called the police, and Parks was arrested. Her arrest
sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

For more than a year, most Black people in Montgomery stood
together and refused to take city buses (one of the leaders of
the boycott was Martin Luther King, JR.). The Boycott didn’t end
until a 1956 Supreme Court decision ended racial segregation on
public transportation throughout the United States.

Rosa Parks was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in
1996 and inspired many others to fight for African American rights
throughout the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and ‘60s.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6TH | Black History Month Spotlight

FREDERICK DOUGLASS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7TH | Black History Month Spotlight

Frederick Douglass was an influential abolitionist, author, and
social reformer.

Frederick Douglass was born an enslaved person in February 1818.
Douglass learned to read when he was eight. When he was 20,
Douglass disguised himself as a sailor and escaped to New York, a
free state without slavery. While living in the North, he became an
Abolitionist and traveled around speaking about his life as a slave
and trying to convince large groups of people to end the
practice.
In 1845, Douglass published the first and most famous of his
autobiographies.

After the Emancipation Proclamation of 1862, he continued to
push for equality and human rights until his death in 1865.

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RUBY BRIDGES

On November 14, 1960, six-year-old Ruby Bridges
was escorted by four armed federal marshals as
she became the first student to integrate William
Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans. This
school is now known as Akilli Academy, which is a
part of our Crescent City School Network.

Ruby Bridges later graduated from Francis T.
Nicholls high school, which is now Frederick
Douglass High School on St. Claude.

Ruby’s bravery helped pave the way for Civil
Rights action in the American South. Today, Ruby
continues to be a civil rights activist and still lives in
New Orleans. She established the Ruby Bridges
Foundation to help promote tolerance and
create change through education.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH | Black History Month Spotlight

After intercepting the pass that would have won the Seattle
Seahawks its second NFL Super Bowl Championship in 2015,
Butler put the New England Patriots in a position to win Super
Bowl XLIX (49) and marks his feat as one of the most googled
football moves. The interception is now regarded as one of the
greatest plays in NFL history.

MALCOLM BUTLER

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9TH | Black History Month Spotlight

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DOROTHY HEIGHT

Dorothy Height was a leader in addressing the rights of both
women and African Americans as the president of the
National Council of Negro Women. The numerous honors
bestowed upon her include the Presidential Medal of
Freedom (1994) and the Congressional Gold Medal (2004).

Height began her efforts as a civil rights activist at the age of
twenty five. From the 1930s - early 2000s, She focused on the
issues of African american women, including unemployment,
illiteracy, and voter awareness.

Height was one of the only leading female civil rights
activities to work alongside Martin Luther King Jr, A Philip
Randolph, Roy Wilkins, Whitney Young, John Lewis, and
James farmer- sometimes called the “Big Six” of the civil
rights movement.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH | Black History Month Spotlight

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TUSKEGEE AIRMEN

The first African American U.S> military pilots flew over 1.800
missions during World War II. U.S. search interest for the airmen
peaked in January 2012, when”Red Tails,” a film about them,
was released.

During their tie, many Black americans were still subject to the
Jim Crow laws and the army was still racially segregated, like
much of the federal government.

The airmen were collectively awarded a Congressional Gold
Medal in 2006, and the medal is on display in the Smithsonian
Institute.

During the 2020 Super Bowl, at 100 years old, Colonel Charles
McGee brought out the commemorative coin for the Super
Bowl coin flip.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13TH | Black History Month Spotlight

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KENDRICK LAMAR

In 2018, rapper and songwriter Kendrick
Lamar was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for
music. His winning album was honored the
prize due to Lamar’s storytelling ability
through music that highlights the complexity
of modern Black-American life. He was the
first non-jazz or classical artist to win the
award.

Lamar was born in Compton, CA and has
won 13 Grammy Awards.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14TH | Black History Month Spotlight

Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans. He only
had a 5th grade education, dropping out of school
to work, On New Year’s Eve 1912, he was arrested
and sent to a Home for Boys. There, he learned how
to play the cornet, eventually becoming the leader
in the Home’s Brass Band, Released from the Home
in 1914, Armstrong set his sights on becoming a
professional musician. He soon became one of the
most in-demand cornets in the city,

In 1925, he began recording his own record.
Armstrong‘s improvised solos transformed jazz from
an ensemble-based music into a soloist’s art. Today,
he is the most searched Jazz Musician.

LOUIS ARMSTRONG

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15TH | Black History Month Spotlight

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JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH | Black History Month Spotlight

Jean-Michel Basquiat was born in Brooklyn, NY on
December 22, 1960. With a Haitian-American father and
Puerto Rican mother, Basquiat’s diverse cultural heritage
was one of his many sources of inspiration. A self-taught
artist, Basquiat began drawing at an early age on the
sheets of paper his father brought home from work.

Basquiat first attracted attention for his graffiti in New York
City, in the late 1970s. He then began selling his work on
sweatshirts and postcards. He was known for using thc
brown motif, which was his way of celebrating Black
people as majestic, royalty or deeming them as saints.

SIMONE BILES

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17TH | Black History Month Spotlight

Simone Biles is the most searched gymnast according
to Google Data. She is also the most decorated
American gymnast in history, with 32 medals (19 of
them gold) from the World Championships and sevel
medals (four gold) from the Olympics.

Simone is a big proponent of mental health awareness,
showing that it’s okay to not be okay during the 2021
Summer Olympics, when she tool ,a bre from some of
her competitions. Her talent, bravery, vulnerability, and
courage has inspired many around the world.

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JASON REYNOLDS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH | Black History Month Spotlight

Jason Reynolds is a New York Times bestselling author who
has successfully written TONS of books for young people. In
fact, his goal has always been to get young people to
read, to have fun reading, and to see themselves in the
books they read.

Reynolds is the National Ambassador for Young People’s
Literature and has been for the past four years.

Jason Reynolds didn’t start reading until he was 17 and
now he devotes his life to helping young people see the
value in their own narratives because he believes that they
too, have a stormy and there’s power in telling it.

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BONUS SLIDES

SWITCH ANY SLIDES OUT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE. HERE ARE OTHER ONES TO

ADD TO THIS SLIDE DECK.

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MAYA ANGELOU

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH | Black History Month Spotlight

Maya Angelou is a renowned poet and activist. She is ne of
the most notable Black American poets, essayists,
playwrights, writers, and editors. She authored seven
autobiographies and other literary works. She has earned
dozen of awards and about 50 honorary degrees.

Aside from being skilled in writing, she was also known in the
field of performing arts for her skills in dancing, singing,
acting, and directing. Later in her life, she made a name in
the performing arts industry as the first female black director
of Hollywood.

Maya Angelou also worked as a civil rights activist under
Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King.

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BARACK OBAMA

Barack Obama was born in Hawaii. As a child, he lived in
Indonesia before returning to Hawaii to be raised by his
grandparents. Obama married his wife, Michelle Obama,
and had two children; Sasha and Malia.

Obama made history on February 10, 2007, when he
announced his bid for presidency. He was inaugurated as
the first Black president and the 44th President of the United
States on January 20, 2009. He was elected a second time,
make his presidency run for 8 years, ending on January 20,
2017.

Some of his most notable accomplishments include: earning
a Nobel Peace Prize, reforming the healthcare system, and
ending the Iran war,

Black History Month Spotlight

OPRAH WINFREY

Black History Month Spotlight

Oprah Winfrey is an American media star and
businesswoman. She is best known for her talk show, The
Oprah Winfrey Show, which ran on national TV for 25
years. Her lively, open personality has made her one of
the most-watched women on television.

Born into poverty, she has built a fortune work more than
a billion dollars. She was the richest African American of
the 20th century and was the world’s only Black
billionare by and the greatest Black philanthropist in U.S.
history by 2007. She has since been named the most
influential woman of her generation by Life magazine.

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MICHAEL JORDAN

Michael Jordan was born in Brooklyn, NY. However, he
grew up in North Carolina, where he honed his basketball
skills. He then attended the University of North Carolina,
where he played basketball for three years before going
to the NBA. He was the 3rd player drafted in the 1984 NBA
draft by the Chicago Bulls. He would lead the Bulls to six
NBA championships. He also won 5 NBA MVP awards.

He is widely considered the greeted basketball player in
the history of the game.. Today, he is part owner of the
Charlotte Hornets and is actively involved in charity world.

Black History Month Spotlight

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AMANDA GORMAN

Amanda Gorman is an American poet and activist.
Her work focuses on the issues of oppression,
feminism, race, and marginalization, as well as the
African diaspora.

Gorman was the first person to be named National
Youth Poet Laureate. In 2021, She was 16 years old.

At 22, she delivered her poem “The Hill We Climb” at
the inauguration of the U.S. President Joe Biden. One
month later, in February 2021, she became the first
poet to perform at the Super Bowl.

Gorman has announced her hope to run for
president in 2036 and she hosted the 2021 Met Gala.

In

Black History Month Spotlight

Shirley Chisholm was an American politician, educator,
and writer. She was a member of the Democratic Party
and served as a member of the US House of
Representatives for New York’s 2nd district. She served as
a representative from 1969 - 1983.

She ran for President of the United States in 1972. She
became the first major-party black candidate for the
President of the United States, though she ultimately lost
the primary (she did win in Louisiana, though!)

Throughout her tenure in COngress, she worked on
education, health care, social services, and reductions in
military spending.

SHIRLEY CHISHOLM

Black History Month Spotlight

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KEHINDE WILEY

Kehinde Wiley is a Black portrait painter based in New
York City, who is known for his highly naturalistic
paintings of Black People. He was commissioned in
2017 to paint a portrait of President Barack Obama
for the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, which
has portraits of all the previous presidents.

Wiley was included in Time Magazine’s 100 Most
Influential People of 2018.

Black History Month Spotlight

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MALCOLM X

Black History Month Spotlight

Malcolm X was an African American nationalist and leader
in the civil rights movement. His parents taught him to be
proud of being black in an openly anti-black society.
Malcolm X believed that black people should fight for the
civil rights in any way that they could. He also through that
black people should support each other by shopping in
stores owned by black people.

Malcolm X’s autobiography was published after his death in
1965. His autobiography is the most searched and most read
autobiography in history.

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MADAM CJ WALKER

Madam C.J. Walker was an American entrepreneur and
philanthropist. She was born on a plantation near Delta,
Louisiana. She was the fifth child born to recently freed
slaves and she was their first child born free.

Madam C.J. Walker was the first female self-made
millionaire in America. She made her fortune in the hair
care business. She developed and marketed a
successful line of beauty and hair products for black
women.

Walker was a leader and role model in the black
community. When she passed, she donated ⅔ of her
worth to various black charities and community
organizations.

Black History Month Spotlight

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JOHN LEWIS

John Lewis was important leader during the civil rights
movement. He was one of the “Big Six” leaders of
groups who organized the 1963 March on
Washington. On that day, he delivered a stirring
speech regarding the need for civil rights legislation.

Lewis was the chairman of the Student Nonviolent
Coordinating Committee (SNCC) served as the US
Representative for Georgia from 1987 -until his death
in 2020.

Black History Month Spotlight

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STACEY ABRAMS

Stacey Abrams is an American politician, lawyer, author, and
voting rights activist. She served in the Georgia House of
Representatives from 2007 - 2017.

She founded Fair Fight Action, an organization to address voter
suppression, in 2018. Her efforts have been widely credited with
boosting voter turnout in Georgia, including in the 2020
Presidential election, when Joe Biden won the state of Georgia.

In 2018, Abrams became the first Black female major-party
gubernatorial nominee in the US. She lost the election but has
continued to fight against voter suppression in Georgia. In
February 2019, Abrams became the first African-American woman to deliver
a response to the State of the Union address.

Black History Month Spotlight