Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing the central role of blacks in U.S. history. 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.
The YMCA of the Triangle's African American Employee Resource Group (AAERG) invites you to join us as we recognize the significance of black history, to connect as a staff community and to learn about ways we can make our organization stronger through diversity and equity.
*We'll be sharing additional reflections from YMCA leaders throughout February, both here and on our Facebook pages.
Previous Leader Reflections
Youth & Family Resources
Meet 28 African-American leaders, inventors and pioneers
Civil Rights Leaders Word Search
Rosa Parks Bus Maze
Learning Resources for Kids:
PBS Kids | National Education Association | Education.com | Maryland Families Engage | Netflix | Sesame Street
Arts & Crafts Projects:
Face Jug | Mini Furniture | Quilt Square Decoration | Time Capsule | Woven Yarn Basket
Coloring Pages:
Jackie Robinson | Louis Armstrong | Thurgood Marshall | Black History Month | BHM Quilt
We Wear Black
On the fourth Friday of February, YMCAs across the country commit to being an anti-racist, multicultural organization and honor Black History Month in a show of solidarity by wearing black.
In 2024, We Wear Black will take place on February 23. Created by the African American Resource Network in 2020, this is a great opportunity to get both your staff and members involved in the diversity, equity and inclusion work within your Y.
Sign up to be part of a Y-USA virtual event on Feb. 23 at 2 p.m.
Support Black-Owned Businesses
Explore History
Books:
- Book Ideas for Children featuring authors from the 2021 African American Cultural Celebration
- Book Ideas for Adults featuring authors from the 2021 African American Cultural Celebration
- “My Professor’s Workshops”- A Tribute to Gerald Barrax by Lenard Moore on the origins of the North Carolina African American Writers Collective.
Museums, Historic Sites, Heritage Trails, and Other Community Resources:
- An Open Letter for These Times: Black Lives and Historic Sites by Michelle Lanier, Director, North Carolina Division of State Historic Sites and Properties Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
- Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum
- Historic Edenton
- Stagville
- Tryon Palace
- Many counties and cities in North Carolina have African American Heritage Trails:
Halifax Underground Railroad Trail
African American Heritage Trail – Fayetteville
Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor
African American Music Trails of North Carolina
Pope House - Raleigh
Hayti Heritage Center - Durham - North Carolina Museum of History
