Resources for African American History Month

February is African American History Month so let me help with some resources.
Books:
The Underground Railroad: An Interactive History Adventure by Allison Lassieur

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 112 pages
Publisher: Capstone Press; 1st edition (January 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1429611839
ISBN-13: 978-1429611831

Describes the people and events of the Underground Railroad in the 1850s after the Fugitive Slave Act was passed. The reader's choices reveal the historical details from the perspectives of a runaway slave, a slave catcher, and an abolitionist. It's $6.95 retail, but scholastic.com has it for $5.00 in their January TAB flyer (T50600).

Also from Scholastic, Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Russell Freedman

Reading level: Ages 9-12

Paperback: 114 pages
Publisher: Holiday House (November 4, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0823421953
ISBN-13: 978-0823421954

In Freedman's clear prose, relive the protest that changed America. This book is packed with archival photos as well as personal stories and historical accounts.
The hardcover retails for $18.95, but at Scholastic.com, the paperback is yours for $6.00.

Website activities:

Born in Slavery: Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936-1938
This site through the Library of Congress contains more than 2,300 first-person accounts of slavery and 500 black-and-white photographs of former slaves. Students are introduced to primary sources.

Voices from the Days of Slavery

Former slaves tell their stories in another Library of Congress archive of 7 hours worth of recordings. I found with both these sites that if you go to the gallery, you get a nice sampling of pieces.

The Museum of the African Diaspora also has a small collection of slave narratives narrated by Maya Angelou. Listen in and enjoy the deep, soothing narration of Angelou.

Use these primary sources as background information for their projects or their creative pieces. The Museum of the African Diaspora also has transcripts of the interviews so students can do oral history monologues too. Let us know what you do for African American History Month.

Comments

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