3 Storybooks to Use During Black History Month
February is legit right around the corner, and that means it’s time to celebrate Black History Month in your music classroom. There are tons of black composers, dancers, actors, musicians . . . I mean the list just goes on and on. Before we get into the deets, it’s important to discuss what Black History Month is all about.
Black History Month is a celebration of all the accomplishments by African Americans over time, as well as a time for recognizing the role their achievements have played in U.S. history. This holiday, also known as African American History Month, the event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. February 1st is the anniversary of the abolition of slavery. It’s a time to spotlight the full spectrum of being Black and living in America, similar to how we take time to celebrate other cultures.
Before we go further, let’s take a moment to pause and think about something else. Why relegate Black history to a single month? Why not incorporate it all year? Think about it . . . Black History is a part of American history. As educators, especially as music educators, we have the opportunity to educate our students about the important contributions black Americans have made to our country and our culture. While talking about race can be challenging, music is the universal language, and every race and culture is a part of it.
Ok, I’ll step down off of my pedestal and get back to our 3 storybooks. These picture books highlight some of the best parts of our history, it’s music, dance, and the idea of freedom. Each has its own unique perspective and objective.
- Freedom in Congo Square, by Carole Boston Weatherford & R. Gregory Christie, is about the square in New Orleans where slaves were allowed to gather to sing, dance, make music and have community on Sundays. Every Sunday was a little taste of freedom for a people who were enslaved and oppressed. This story has rhyming words and phrases that rhythmically flow. It could easily be read using an instrumental track. For this storybook, I’ve created a tiny melody which can be used to compose a larger song, using the rhyming words in the story.
- Rap a Tap Tap, Here’s Bonjangles, Think of That, by Leo & Diane Dillon, is about Bill, “Bojangles” Robinson. Bojangles was known as the greatest tap dancer of all time and was the highest paid entertainer in the 1930’s. There is a great repeating pattern in the story (rap a tap, tap, think of that) that can be used as a tiny melody. You can create your own melody or just use the rhythm. This picture book enables you to talk about the history of Bojangles and other black entertainers. Plus, you get to teach some rhythm skills as well.
- Charlie Parker Played BeBop, by Chris Raschka, is my last recommendation, although there are SO MANY other great storybooks you can use. This picture book uses words like fisk, fisk and boomba to describe the music of Charlie Parker. This is a great opportunity to introduce your students to one of the great jazz musicians of our time. It’s also a wonderful time to talk to your students about jazz and the influence it had on current music today, like hip hop. I love to use the descriptive words in the story to improvise on kazoos, or use your fist kazoo! You can also use drums to improvise with.
Black History Month can be the best opportunity to spend some time talking about the important contributions black Americans have made in our history. While you’re planning, why not plan a little something each quarter about the music, dance, and historical contributions made by black people throughout time.
Want to find out more about the storybook lessons I mention in this blog post? You can check out my bundle by clicking the following link: Black History Month Bundle.