The David Lubin Parent Teacher Group would like to start Black History Month by restating our commitment to anti-racism and equity. You can find our BLM statement and other anti-racism resources here, including this short video on the importance of equity in schools from the California Teachers Association: This is Equity. 

Our teachers and other David Lubin community members have identified some leaders, artists, books and other resources they wanted to share for Black History Month. These can be used to start or continue discussions with your students or for you to learn as an individual. These are just a few of many. You can read articles, watch videos and find questions to discuss as a family at pbs.org.

Learn about these Black leaders in the fields of voting rights, poetry, math, science and more.

Check out some Black artists and download coloring pages too.

Do you and your student want to learn more about Black History and vocabulary? Check out these Melanin STEM Flashcards (1st-3rd and 4th-6th grade versions available for purchase).

Reading List for Students

Mrs. Kane and other teachers have provided a reading list for students and their families. You can also check out the reading list from The Great Unlearn for Young Learners.

Kindergarten through 3rd Grade:

Anna Carries Water by Olive Senior (PreK to 1st). Anna can’t carry water on her head quite like her siblings can. This story shows how Anna perseveres and achieves her goal to bring water from the spring.

Race Cars, a children’s book about white privilege, by Jenny Devenny (K to 3rd). Created to serve as a springboard for parents and educators to facilitate tough conversations with their kids about race, privilege and oppression, Race Cars tells the story of 2 best friends, a white car and a black car, that have different experiences and face different rules while entering the same race.

Let the Children March by Monica Clark-Robinson (K to 3rd). Set in 1963 in Birmingham, Alabama, this book tells the story of thousands of brave children who marched to protest segregation laws.

Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport (K to 3rd). With breathtaking illustrations, this biography introduces children to the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Mr. Crum’s Potato Predicament by Anne Renaud (K to 3rd). Did you know the potato chip was an accidental invention? Delight students with the story of George Crum, a chef who created one of our favorite snacks.

Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library by Carole Boston Weatherford (K to 3rd). Arturo Schomburg is a collector of African art, books, and music. Read to find out what happens when his valuable collections begin to overflow his house! 

Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly (K to 3rd). The true story of four black women who played critical roles in one of NASA’s greatest successes.

Ruby Bridges Goes to School: My True Story by Ruby Bridges (K to 3rd). The remarkable true story of the first African-American child to integrate a Louisiana school, written by Ruby Bridges herself.

The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson (1st to 3rd). Two young girls begin a friendship, but there’s one major problem: they live on opposite sides of their segregated town. 

2nd to 5th Grade:

Molly, by Golly!: The Legend of Molly Williams, America’s First Female Firefighter by Diane Ochiltree (2nd to 5th). Spunky, brave, and little-known, Molly Williams was the first female firefighter in the U.S.

Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine (2nd to 5th). This award-winning book tells the story of a slave determined to gain his freedom and his dramatic struggle to reach the North.

5th to 6th Grade:

The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson (6th – 8th). The discovery of a lost letter vaults Candice into a mystery and a multigenerational truth about a contemporary Southern town’s racist past.

Free Online or Local Events:

Smithsonian: Young Portrait Explorers. Wednesday, 8-8;30 AM pacific – Free, registration required. Ages 3-6

2/9 – Michelle Obama  2/16 – Barack Obama  2/23 – George Washington Carver 

National Museum of African American History and Culture, Joyful Fridays for Kids, 8-9 AM Pacific – Free, Registration Required. ASL Interpretation will be provided. Ages 4+

2/4 – The Black Panthers 2/11 – Maya Angelou 2/18 – Granville T. Woods and the Roller Coaster 2/25 – Black Creativity and Abstract Art

Family Movie Night at the Guild Theater – Free – 1st Sunday of the month, 2 PM Showtime

Feb. 6 – Ruby Bridges or Soul Mar. 6 – Hidden Figures Apr. 3 – Black Panther

Old Sugar Mill BHM Art and Craft Show – Sunday 2/20, 11 AM – 5 PM – Free – All Ages – Registration requested but not required