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Search for Black Owned, Operated and Oriented Business. BOB Rochester has special features to help you find what you're looking for in your local community.

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This guide offers a sample of the resources available at ASU Library and is intended for research as well as personal education.

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Go to TRUE NORTH LOGIC to search "Antiracist Curriculum" Professional Development opportunities

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Black History Month | Rochester Museum & Science Center

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Celebrate Black History Month at the RMSC with programs, featured exhibits, and activities for people of all ages.

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Explore the WXXI Black Heritage and Culture site: Your resource and guide to the films, stories, and voices centered around Black history and culture, current events, and issues. And be sure to visit WXXINews.org for coverage of community events and issues that are important to Rochester and beyond.…

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BLM at School is committed to teaching truthful histories and amassing the powerful practices, creative tools, and key strategies by which past, present, and future generations can advance the struggle of Black liberation. This summer, we renewed our curriculum work to create a more process-oriented, dialogic, secure, and empowering space for curriculum and community-building. This all-volunteer effort to map, index, and ensure continued wide access to identity-affirming, justice-oriented educational materials across the lifespan is more necessary than ever.

DONATE TO SUPPORT OUR MOVEMENT TO RECLAIM OUR CLASSROOMS AS INCUBATORS FOR INCLUSIVITY, EQUITY, & JUSTICE.

We are grateful for all of the contributions from educators and organizers from around the country who worked collaboratively to curate a variety of classroom resources for every age group. These resources are all free of charge and meant to be shared and used. The goal of these lessons and activities is to challenge racism and oppression and providing students with the vocabulary and tools needed to take action. If you are interested in joining the team please click here and email Chris Rogers.

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National coalition organizing for racial justice in education.

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Smithsonian African American History & Culture 

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Smithsonian African American History & Culture 

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National Museum of African American History and Culture

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Sweet Home Café
The 2017 James Beard Award nominated Sweet Home Café showcases the rich culture and history of the African American people with traditional, authentic offerings as well as present-day food traditions.
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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subscribe to World Cafe Words and Music Podcast podcast

subscribe to World Cafe Words and Music Podcast podcast

When you think of demanding professions, it's possible that "attorney" comes in somewhere near the top of the list - long, long hours doing mentally exhausting work. That's what my guest today, Danielle Ponder, was used to when she worked as a public defender. For a long time, singing was something she did on the side, but with the release of her debut album, Some of Us Are Brave, last fall, it's become her main focus.

In this session, Ponder explains how her two careers are connected and how she found her own voice after years of giving a voice to other people. You'll also hear just how powerful her voice is in a live performance recorded live for World Cafe during a WXPN Free at Noon concert in Philadelphia, Pa.

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Danielle Ponder found her own voice after years of giving a voice to others : World Cafe Words and Music Podcast

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subscribe to World Cafe Words and Music Podcast podcast subscribe to World Cafe Words and Music Podcast podcast When you think of demanding professions, it's possible that "attorney" comes in somewhere near the top of the list - long, long hours doing mentally exhausting work.

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Each February, National Black History Month serves as both a celebration and a powerful reminder that Black history is American history. The Rochester Public Library is celebrating Black History Month with the following unique programs and online resources.

online programs, brought to you by rpl

You're invited to a special online preview of the 8th annual Bronze Collective Theatre Fest, which promotes the work of Black/African Diasporic theatre producers, and takes place February 17-19 at MuCCC in Rochester. There will be readings from the plays that will be featured, film clips, and a chance to talk to the playwrights about their work and the festival's 2022 theme "Rising From the Muck and Mire."

Presenters include:

Karen D. Culley, Playwright "The Legend of Double Ax Max"

Reuben J. Tapp, Artistic Director of Maplewood Performing Arts Centre

Laura A. Thomas, Playwright "Mr. Soul!"

Almeta Whitis, Presenter "Spotlight on Jonah Wade"

Registration is required for this free program, which takes place via Zoom. Click here to register.

An unassuming grave in Rochester New York's Historic Mt. Hope Cemetery marks Rev. Thomas James's 1891 death without any hint of the remarkable life he led. Rev. Thomas James was born enslaved in Canajoharie, Montgomery County, New York in 1804. He escaped, after being ill-treated, and never looked back! His contributions included building schools and churches in New York and Massachusetts - many still are in operation today. He traveled the country under the auspices of the American Missionary Society speaking against the institution of slavery and the papacy. As he journeyed, he found himself in positions to effect change across the country including integrating the transportation system in Boston, assisting in the release of the Amistad captives, and freeing 2000 enslaved persons in Kentucky after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, just to name a few. His work around the country earned him the designation as the most well-known, abolitionist preacher in the Nineteenth Century. He met Frederick Douglass before he was the Nineteenth Century's most famous orator and statesman. But he also bumped heads with many, including Austin Steward - the first Black businessman in Rochester - over religious doctrine and the position Blacks should have in this country. Toward the end of his life, Rev. Thomas James was the oldest, living abolitionist in the country. At the urging of others, he wrote his autobiography in 1886 where he humbly stated his life was "a simple one, perhaps hardly worth the telling." This was farthest from the truth!

Cheryl Sampson is a "Professional Museum-Goer" currently working towards her MA in (Public) History at SUNY Brockport with a focus on 19th and early 20th century Black culture and Institutions. She is married to Rev. Ronald Sampson and has four adult children and four grandchildren.

Registration for this program is required. Please click here to register.

Learn how the Library helps to foster Equity and Justice in our society with diverse cultural community representation in programs and services, including Central's new Archive of Black History and Culture.

Presenter: Christine L. Ridarsky, City Historian & Historical Services Consultant, Rochester Public Library. Christine will be joined by community partners.

Advance registration is required. Register here

Jacob Armstead Lawrence was an American painter known for his portrayal of African-American historical subjects and contemporary life. Lawrence referred to his style as "dynamic cubism", although by his own account the primary influence was not so much French art as the shapes and colors of Harlem.

You will do a drawing based on his "The Libraries Are Appreciated" drawing.

This class is for adults and teens and will be held through Zoom. Registration is required. Click here to register.

Cynthia Hawkins, Ph.D, will cover the advent of abstraction in the United States among African American artists. The artists to be discussed include Norman Lewis, Mel Edwards, William Majors, and others who came from all corners of the United States to New York City. They were sculptors and painters who worked at the Printmaking Workshop founded by the renowned African American master printer Robert Blackburn. It was a volatile time in the U.S. and in other parts of the world; how were black artists received by galleries and museums at this time? Was there a community of artists, did they engage in activism, and how did artists apply their skills to aid African American community?

This program is through Zoom. Registration is required. Click here to register.

Cynthia Hawkins, Ph.D, is the Gallery Director and Curator of the Bertha V.B. Lederer Gallery at SUNY Geneseo.

MCLS programs

Click here to view additional Black History programs being presented throughout the Monroe County Library System.

PREVIOUS PROGRAMS

RESOURCES

In 2020, when challenging events gripped the nation and ushered in a new era of reckoning, a diverse team of librarians and staff collaborated to curate this collection of print and digital materials to serve as an educational resource for the community: Understanding Black Experiences.

For more information, visit the Black Lives Matter: An Anti-Racism Resource Page, compiled by members of the Monroe County Library System's Racial Equity & Justice Initiative Team.

LIBRARY RESOURCES RELATED TO DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

Highlighted resources from the Reynolds media Center

DIGITAL COLLECTIONS

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Black history month - Rochester Public Library

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Each February, National Black History Month serves as both a celebration and a powerful reminder that Black history is American history. The Rochester Public Library is celebrating Black History Month with the following unique programs and online resources.

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Shop black-owned

Visitors to the Rochester region will find a wide variety of black-owned and operated businesses to meet all of their needs.

National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House

Rochester's first National Historic Landmark, the National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House was the longtime home of legendary suffragist, abolitionist, and civil rights leader Susan B. Anthony.

From her home on Madison Street, Anthony conducted many of her most significant political activities, including the writing of fiery speeches, petitions, and campaigns. Although Anthony, who served as president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, traveled widely, she always returned to her beloved Rochester home.

Frederick Douglass Tour

Frederick Douglass was one of the most renowned human rights leaders of the nineteenth century. A brilliant orator and author, Douglass was at the forefront of the abolitionist movement and became the first black citizen to hold a high rank in the United States government.

Visitors to Rochester today can embark on a self-guided tour tracing Douglass' legacy throughout the region. Locations significant to his life and work have been marked by thirteen life-sized replica statues of the Frederick Douglass Monument found in Rochester's Highland Park. Each statue installation includes a QR code that, when scanned, brings viewers to a website with more information on the importance of the site and the Douglass legacy.

The Underground Railroad in Rochester

The Underground Railroad, a national network of people and groups offering shelter and assistance to escapees fleeing the South, began operating in Rochester and surrounding regions during the 1830s.

Due to its proximity to Canada-the final destination for thousands of freedom seekers-Rochester was an active hub and gateway on the Underground Railroad. Many individuals, black and white, and denominations were involved in the local effort to create secret hubs along the route to freedom. Many of these sites are accessible to Rochester visitors.

The Rochester Museum & Science Center

The Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC) offers visitors, young and old, the opportunity to learn more about Underground Railroad history in the permanent exhibition Flight to Freedom: Rochester's Underground Railroad.

This interactive exhibit allows visitors to explore the paths that freedom seekers traveled and learn how Rochester area activists fought to abolish slavery and assist escaped slaves to freedom. Featured historical black figures include Austin Steward, abolitionist and author of the autobiography Twenty-Two Years a Slave; Frederick Douglass, renowned human rights leader; Harriet A. Jacobs, author of the autobiography Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl; and Reverend Thomas James, abolitionist and founder of Rochester's AME Zion Church.

The Baobab Cultural Center

Founded in 2005 by Dr. Moka La and his wife, Dr. Cheryl Kodjontum, as an art gallery to exhibit their collection of African art in Rochester, Baobab has since developed into a comprehensive cultural center devoted to sharing the history and worldwide influence of African culture.

The Center was named for the sacred African baobab tree, also known as "the tree of life." As the Center's website describes, "This enormous tree...has provided shelter as well as medicine and general nutrition through its seeds, leaves, and bark. The cultural center has, therefore, become the place to nourish the mind and spirit of every visitor."

Visitors to the Baobab Cultural Center can arrange private Magnificent Africa tours for children or adults, stop in to view works of art in the gallery, register for yoga or drum classes, or attend one of many special events.

AKWAABA Tours

AKWAABA Tours allows groups to experience the nineteenth century freedom movement, particularly in relation to the Rochester and Finger Lakes regions, through reenactments, educational presentations, and tours.

AKWAABA's living history presenters are Rochester area residents from a variety of professional backgrounds and are all devoted to telling the story of the Underground Railroad.

Examples of AKWAABA's Rochester tours include Riverwalk, a tour along Rochester's Main Street and Genesee River that highlights the life and work of black abolitionists Frederick Douglass, Austin Steward, and Harriet A. Jacobs, and Riverstroll, which expands upon the Riverwalk tour to include historic sites such as the "Let's Have Tea" sculpture of Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony, the Douglass Family plot in historic Mount Hope Cemetery, and the Douglass Monument in Highland Park. AKWAABA customers may also work with members of the organization to design tours or add additional sites to any of the custom tours.

Tours must be arranged in advance by contacting AKWAABA at https://akwaabatours.org/our-tours/; by phone at (585) 482-5192; by fax at (585) 288-3681); or by mail at 181 Royleston Road, Rochester NY 14609-6705.

Walk the Walk: Encounters with Rochester's African-American Ancestors

Enjoy this free, entertaining and moving performance, as African-Americans from Rochester's past come to life to share their stories. Share the experiences of Rochesterians from the past, as you meet notables such as Frederick Douglass and Austin Steward-as well as those who may not be as well known, such as Bessie Hamm. This program is appropriate for adults and families.

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Black History & Culture Sites: Rochester - Finger Lakes Film Trail

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Visitors to the Rochester region will find a wide variety of black-owned and operated businesses to meet all of their needs. Rochester's first National Historic Landmark, the National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House was the longtime home of legendary suffragist, abolitionist, and civil rights leader Susan B. Anthony.

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Shining our light on Joseph Ave!!

Theatre for Everybody!

The Avenue Blackbox Theatre is where the cool kids (of all ages) come to play. A Black-owned, inclusive, fully accessible, queer space where social justice and art converge to create dynamic stage productions, installations and live art-making events for and by us.

Our focus is on honoring and uplifting BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ voices, art and issues. Your patronage supports building community that elevate voices from the margins, makes space for their art and real time community transformation.

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The Avenue BlackBox Theatre | Community Theatre | Rochester, NY

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Shining our light on Joseph Ave!! Theatre for Everybody! The Avenue Blackbox Theatre is where the cool kids (of all ages) come to play. A Black-owned, inclusive, fully accessible, queer space where social justice and art converge to create dynamic stage productions, installations and live art-making events for and by us.

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IN THIS MOMENT: Revolution Reckoning Reparation
2020-2021, published by VSW Press

In This Moment is a project for ten teams of Black writers and photographers to profile ten Black leaders from across the city of Rochester:

Samra Brouk, NY State Senator, 55th District, essay by Quajay Donnell, photographs by Andre Walker

Luticha André Doucette, Owner of Catalyst Consulting, essay by Irene Kannyo, photographs by Erica Jae

Shawn Dunwoody, Artist, essay by Christopher Thompson, photographs by Arturo Hoyte

The Gatekeeper Adrian Elim, essay by Jevon Cooper, photographs by Cocoa Rae David

Dorothy Simmons Hall & Dorian Hall, GrassRoots Community Builders, essay by Lu Highsmith, photographs by Ralph Thompson

Debora McDell-Hernandez, Senior Director of Public & Community Affairs Planned Parenthood of Central & Western New York, essay by Lisa Maria Rickman, photographs by Rashaad Parker

Dr. Celia McIntosh, DNP, RN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, SCRN, CEN, CCRN, CNRN, President of the Rochester Regional Coalition Against Human Trafficking, essay by Vanessa Cheeks, photographs by Olivia Bacot

Kathryn Mariner PhD, Wilmot Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Visual and Cultural Studies, essay by Erica Bryant, photographs by Christopher Cardwell

Danielle Ponder, Musician & Attorney, poem by Luticha André Doucette, photographs by Quajay Donnell

Herbert Smith, 3rd Trumpet Rochester Philharmonic Director of Jazz Bands RIT Composer, Recording Artist, Conductor, essay by Taurus Savant, photographs by Jackie McGriff

The project demonstrates the breadth and scope of revolutionary work happening in the area. Each profile is a chapbook published by VSW Press and each of the ten books are available for free, distributed through 12 branches of the Monroe County Public Library system, the SUNY Brockport Intercultural Center, and VSW.

The theme, In this Moment, is a challenge to a euphemism often used in lieu of talking about Revolution, Reckoning, and Reparations. We look to take the euphemism and ask it back to those most likely to use it: What is this moment?

See Smitri Jacob's article on the project in the Rochester Beacon here.

In This Moment is created by Amanda Chestnut, Curator, and Jeanne Strazzabosco, Coordinator. VSW is the fiscal sponsor, publisher, and collaborator.

This moment is a revolution, a reckoning, and a demand for reparation.
The intergenerational wound of racism in Rochester existed before the building of the Inner Loop and before the firebombing of Frederick Douglass's home. Black people in this city have been working for freedom since before the city's namesake, Nathaniel Rochester, financially invested in slave trading and brought the people he himself enslaved to the region.

We acknowledge that this project capitalizes on the labor of Black leaders, writers, and photographers and we are raising funds to pay all of those involved in the project have been paid for their services. Each contributor is innovative in their own right: photographers are vanguards in Black Lives Matter; writers are at the forefront of equitable funding for arts and education in the city; every person has a vested interest in a successful and vibrant Rochester and we wish for you to invest in them, directly.

You can help to tell stories that show how this moment is just one in a series of events that Black people have been facing, fighting, and determinedly prevailing over for generations.

We are very grateful to our donors and grantors:
Publishers Jeanne Strazzabosco, Glenn Jackson, Daniel and Nancy Robbins Family Fund at Rochester Area Community Foundation, Pace Family Fund at Rochester Area Community Foundation, The Arts Prevail Fund at the Rochester Area Community Foundation, Drs. Dawn and Jacques Lipson Enhancing Life Fund at Rochester Area Community Foundation, Rochester Public Library, Joy of Giving Something, Inc., SUNY Brockport

Team Builders Rome Celli, Chris Caretta, Nahoko Kawakyu, RocGrowth, M&T Charitable Foundation

Patrons Ann Binstock, Jane Sutter Brandt, Tom Jacobs, Audrey James, Joan Lyons, SURJ ROC, Emily Colliss, Adam and Lindsay Thaine, Wynne-Strauss Fund for Racial and Social Justice at Rochester Area Community Foundation

Supporters Megan DeFranco x 3, Joel Burges, Jenna McDavid, Julie Fiske, Sean Dobbin, Patricia Uttaro, Megan Sullivan, Elizabeth Murray, Alison Feser, Rome Celli, Ginnie Maier, Kimberly Pier, Bleu Cease, University of Rochester Special Collections, Kathleen Braman, Kelly Cheatle, Beth Larter, Jesse Lanser, Sharon Hildebrand, Gwendolyn Davies, Mara Hazzard-Wollingford, Mona Seghatoleslami, Thomas Mitchell, Elizabeth Stauderman, Brian Murphy, Matthew DeTurck, Megan Borruso, Lindsey Brown, Tate DeCaro, Mike and Lynn Boucher, Adele Anderson and Evan Meccarello, Callie Babbitt, Margaret Joseph, Kristen Balliet, Meredith Davenport, Kristin Hocker, Anonymous, Harriet Gibbs, Kathleen Jordan, Deborah Ronnen, Carmel Merrill, Louie Palu, Jacklyn Das, Scott Barrows, Joyce Strazzabosco, Sejal Shah, Chris Fanning, Patricia Ceravole, Katherine Stathis, Michael Brisson, Dennis Skinner, Lytton Smith, Marc Hartwig, Walter Colley, Barbara Van Kerkhove, Liz Brown, Jennifer Barth, Kate Meyers Emery, Michelle Dunn Marsh, Sharon Turner, Lisa Hostetler, Hannah Lightbody, Susan Matuck, Margaret Demment, Sara Oliveiri, Sarah Spano, Karen Soanes, Karen Ferrara, Matthew Bernius, Ashley Doerzbacher, Kathleen Sweetman, Aubrey MacIntyre, Laura Ballou, Mary Jo Bonin, Kristen Seversky, Debi Monsour, Chris Fanning, Ruth McNamara, Jeremiah Parry-Hill, Benjamin Kieran, Lisa McCarty, Courtney Shouse, Jessica Winterhalt Wanner, Erica Neuburger, Melissa Boyack, Beth McCoy, Emily Minerva, Tia Blassingame, Jennifer Ghidiu, Lara Jacoby, Kristina Conklin, Tracey Melville, Kari Horiwicz, Mindy Hillenbrand, Laura Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Fitzstevens, Lauren D. Frank and Annette H. Miller, Denise Junker, Deborah Pierce, James Schnell, Bleu Cease

Backers Mark Watts, Hettie Barnhill, Jeremy Tjhung, Amanda Tucker, Lisa McCarty, Linda Maroney, Erica Neuberger, Mitch Gruber, Deborah Pierce, Quajay Donnell, Maya Abtahian, Jon Gary x 2, Benjamin Kieran x 2, Bethany Velante, Rachel Oatridge, Melissa Chinnock, Charles Goodman x 2, Cathy Sweet, Chris Nolan, Kitty Hubbard, Michael Darcy, Kathryn O'Brien, Jennifer Canning x 2, Crystle Slavy x 2, Melissa VanHeukelum, Carla Halstead, Holli Englerth x 2, Benjamin Kieran, Mary Jo Bonin, Nancy Kehoe, Mark Hartwig, Meg Colombo, Nick Marshall, Ann Rosen, Caitlin Meives, Sara Kozak, Meredith Smith, Hannah Lynch, Ustina Tawadros, Jennifer Strazzabosco, Chris Lindstrom, Melissa Milhalyov, Pia Cseri-Briones, Chris Gernon, Emily Robin Minerva, Annie Niederpruem, Kristen Dolan, Lee Nordhaus, Scott McCarney, Jeri Wilcox, Meghan Murphy, Laura Chekow, Susan Spencer, Kathleen Sweetman, Joan Hendrick, Dan Varenka, Mark Strong, Mark Denaci, Kirby Pilcher, Ceilia McIntosh x 2, Christine Norris, Hinda Mandell, Christopher Dolgos, Jennie Papkin, Christin Green, Matthew Ehlers, Steph Davis, Nancy McCrave, Thomas Greenfield, Steven Jarose, Mary Lupien, Kimberly Kane, Erica Fee, David Paul, Magnus Apollo Champlin, Meg Eaton, 540 W Main, Daniel Herd, Linda Vanartsdalen, Karen Faris, Felicia Smith, Heather Dulisse, Francesca Padilla, Michael Nyerges, Chantal Corriveau, Ria Tafani x 2, Sheila Fustanio, Chris Dolgos, Michael Darcy

Contributors Kara Finnigan, Miranda Mims, Julia Maddox, Fran Broderick, Ngozi Udo, Rachel DeGuzman, Erica Englert, Michael Brisson, Steve Carter, Beth Larter, Michael Hunton, Maria Guzenko, Milo Obourn, Michael D'Avignon, Sarah Webb, Jenna Weintraub, Rachel Laber, Chelsea Flint, Rachel Barnhart, Karen Moses, Michelle Macirella, Renee Duquette, Kristy Mapes, Maryanna Mueller, Brian Halligan, Ty Gagnon, Eboni Jones, Sally Cohen, Kai Von Doom, Richard Colon, Colleen El-Bejjani, Dexter Smith, Rebecca Rafferty, Hannah Davis, Christine Green x 2, Jacklyn Ricard x 2, Emily Carpenter, Lane Campbell, Erin Dwyer

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IN THIS MOMENT 1: Revolution Reckoning Reparation | Visual Studies Workshop

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IN THIS MOMENT: Revolution Reckoning Reparation 2020-2021, published by VSW Press In This Moment is a project for ten teams of Black writers and photographers to profile ten Black leaders from across the city of Rochester: Samra Brouk, NY State Senator, 55th District, essay by Quajay Donnell, photographs by Andre

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IN THIS MOMENT 2: Revolution Reckoning Reparation | Visual Studies Workshop

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Visual Studies Workshop’s mission is to support makers and interpreters of images through education, publications, exhibitions, and collections.

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50 Year Anniversary of Hip Hop - Grammys 2023 Performance

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It began in Seattle.

On a September morning at John Muir Elementary School, a group of black men stood at the entrance high-fiving students. Some of the men beat ancestral drums with wide smiles on their faces. Others wore Afrocentric clothing. They praised each child who approached the steps of the school.

The event, called Black Men Uniting to Change the Narrative, was organized to uplift black youth in the community surrounding John Muir. Teachers at the school-where students of color, half of whom are Black, are in the majority-were eager to partner with the community group. They had focused on race and equity in their professional development for years; they were ready.

But the jubilant rally wasn't just a celebration of the students. On this day, it was also an act of resistance against hate. Just hours before, the school had been threatened by people who'd learned that teachers at John Muir intended to wear "Black Lives Matter-We Stand Together" shirts. One person even sent a bomb threat.

But the school's joy would not be contained. After local authorities confirmed there was no legitimate threat, community members showed up as planned, and John Muir teachers soon found that thousands of educators across the greater Seattle area stood in solidarity with their message.

In spite of the threats (or, perhaps, fueled by them), a local group of union teachers called Social Equity Educators (SEE) encouraged teachers in the district to follow John Muir's lead and host a Black Lives Matter at School Day. On October 19, 2016, thousands of teachers wore Black Lives Matter shirts to school.

Seattle high school teacher Jesse Hagopian, a founding member of SEE, worked closely with the group to encourage participation.

"It was clear that educators wanted to show their students how much we care for them," Hagopian said. "That was an incredible eruption that showed there was a real urgency felt by educators to support their Black students' lives in the face of things like the dramatic, disproportionate discipline that exists in the Seattle schools and across the country, but also with so many examples of police brutality going unchecked."

Inspired by the principles of the Black Lives Matter movement, participating educators focused on three policy demands to facilitate ongoing action at Seattle schools: 1) support ethnic studies in school; 2) replace zero-tolerance discipline with restorative justice practices; and 3) recruit more black teachers.

The Seattle action caught the attention of national media, which inspired Philadelphia teachers to plan a similar event. But they went a step further: Instead of one day, they organized a Week of Action in 2017. The idea continued to grow in places like Rochester, New York, and Montpelier, Vermont, before spreading to classrooms in more than 20 cities during the 2017-18 school year.

In 2019, the Week of Action is scheduled to begin on February 4.

The Week of Action Blueprint

Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action is a time set aside to affirm all Black identities by centering Black voices, empowering students and teaching about Black experiences beyond slavery. The lessons emphasize social justice and ethnic studies, but in addition to classroom work, teachers like Hagopian are organizing, planning, protesting and addressing real-world issues that affect Black students.

"I think the pedagogy in the classroom is important, but it rings hollow if you're telling your kids, 'Here are the great movements for social and racial justice,' and engaging them in those conversations, but then not doing it yourself in your own life," Hagopian says. "I think it's incumbent upon social justice educators who are teaching this stuff to also live it, and that means getting involved with the Black Lives Matter at School movement, to get involved with the movements for structural change."

In Washington, D.C., the nonprofit organization Teaching for Change and the Center for Inspired Teaching have convened a working group of teachers to plan the local Black Lives Matter Week of Action. They collaborate with the local Black Lives Matter chapter, BYP100, and other activist groups. Teaching for Change staff suggest starting February off with more in-depth lessons about Black history and Black experiences, such as the lives of Black Muslims in the United States and "Resistance 101"-tools that help students recognize their power by identifying with young activists throughout history. Educators can share ideas with their network and at curriculum fairs.

Teaching for Change Executive Director Deborah Menkart and Coordinator of Teacher Engagement and Professional Development Rosalie Reyes say they want to ensure all students have a positive racial identity that is visible to the world. "I think one of the goals is that this does become the norm, that we shift the weight of the curriculum from the classroom ... rethink some of the resources that we are using and that we're making sure that the students are seeing themselves in their curriculum, in their literature," Reyes says.

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It began in Seattle. On a September morning at John Muir Elementary School, a group of black men stood at the entrance high-fiving students. Some of the men beat ancestral drums with wide smiles on their faces. Others wore Afrocentric clothing. They praised each child who approached the steps of the school.

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Making Black in America: Through the Grapevine | WXXI

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Black History, Continued: A New York Times Virtual Event Series

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Black History, Continued is a yearlong series in which we explore pivotal moments and transformative figures in Black culture and examine how the past shapes the present and the future.

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Skip to Main Content

It looks like you're using Internet Explorer 11 or older. This website works best with modern browsers such as the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. If you continue with this browser, you may see unexpected results.

Documentaries and Videos

Source: Garza, A., Cullors, P., Tometi, O., & Birdsong, M. (2016, October). An interview with the founders of Black Lives Matter. TED Talk

Slavery By Another Name (2012 PBS Documentary) "challenges one of Americans' most cherished assumptions: that slavery in this country ended with the Emancipation Proclamation. The film tells how even as chattel slavery came to an end in the South after the Civil War, new systems of involuntary servitude took its place with shocking force and brutality."

Implicit Bias: How it Effects Us and How We Push Through - 2014 TEDxFlour City Talk from Melanie Funchess: "Everyone makes assumptions about people they don't know. Melanie will teach us to recognize these assumptions and work toward a common understanding."

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Highline College Library: Anti-Racist Resources: Black Lives Matter Media: Webinars, Videos, and Podcasts

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Skip to Main Content It looks like you're using Internet Explorer 11 or older. This website works best with modern browsers such as the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. If you continue with this browser, you may see unexpected results. Source: Garza, A., Cullors, P., Tometi, O., & Birdsong, M.

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Office of Innovative Teaching and Technology

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Listening to Children with Robert Coles pt.1

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LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING by Ray Charles

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Beyoncé HOMECOMING Lift Every Voice (HQ)

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Rochester Branch NAACP announces Black History Month 2023 events

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Programming and events for the month will be encompassed in a Black History Speaker Series.

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Facebook Group - White People Doing Something

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Facebook Group - White People Doing Something

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Joy Gallery | Luvon Sheppard Art | Rochester

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Buy fine artworks for your home or office from local Rochester fine artist, Luvon Sheppard! Original watercolor, oil, collage and print artworks for sale. Come visit Joy Gallery for free every Saturday from 10AM - 2PM.