Black History & Culture
Celebrate the history and culture of the African diaspora and the achievements of people with African roots.
Resources for Grades 3–5
Video
grades K–12
Haben Girma: To Harvard and Beyond
Be inspired by the indomitable spirit and intellect of Haben Girma, who graduated from Harvard Law while living with deaf-blindness.

Video
grades 2–5
The Woman Who Did the Moon Math
Find out about Katherine Johnson, one of the mathematicians whose calculations got us to the moon and back.

Video
grades 5–12
The Woman Who Made the First Step
As the first Black, female congressperson and a champion for civil rights, Shirley Chisholm broke barriers so others could follow in her footsteps.

Audio
grades 3–5
Hazel Scott
Learn about this incredible pianist who risked everything to be an upstander.

Audio
grades 3–5
Edmonia Wildfire Lewis
Meet a sculptor who overcame great challenges and injustice to continue to create.

Audio
grades 3–5
Queen Nanny
Listen to the true story of Queen Nanny, who helped people who had been enslaved stay free.

Video
grades 1–5
Dorothy Vaughan: Pathbreaking Mathematician
Check out this video and article on Dorothy Vaughan, the supervisor of a group of boundary-breaking African American women whose calculations got astronauts into space.

Audio
grades 3–5
Wangari Maathai, an Activist's Life
Enjoy this inspiring exploration of Wangari Maathai's life. Her environmental and political activism resulted in a Nobel Prize, the first for an African woman.

Audio
grades 3–5
The Beautiful Legacy of Madam C.J. Walker
Check out this podcast explaining how Madam C.J. Walker overcame impossible odds to build a beauty business that spread across the U.S.

Audio
grades 3–5
Queen Celia Cruz
Journey into the world of Latin American music and learn about the life of Celia Cruz, the Cuban-born singer known as the Queen of Salsa.

Audio
grades 3–5
Elizabeth Cotten's Influential Folk Songs
Listen to this podcast about Elizabeth Cotten whose catchy blues and folk songs traveled all over the world and even influenced The Beatles.
Video
Preschool–grade 3
The Pulitzer Playwright
Find out how Suzan-Lori Parks became the first African American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for writing dramatic plays.