Black History Month

Students hanging Black History posters and hosting a Black History movie night.

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Two students holding Black History Month posters

Jazz band played music by Black artists while students from the Black Student Union handed out bracelets.

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Student and leader handing out bracelets

Hear the jazz band play on Instagram or Facebook.

Black History Month extends far beyond February to bring attention to the importance of Black history as part of American history. At McHenry Community High School, social science instructors and students in the BLACK Student Union annually create lessons and displays to spotlight the contributions of Black Americans during Black History Month and throughout the year.

Please see some of the information shared at school and beyond that highlight the many contributions of Black Americans on society today. To the left are resources for our community on the origins of Black History Month and where to find more information.

Click the arrows to go through the posters the MCHS BLACK Student Union members made to celebrate Black History Month.

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February is Black History Month Celebrate with Black Leaders, Associate, Communicate, and Konnect by learning about some notable figures and events in African American history.

Click the arrows to go through the 2023 bulletin board display made by social science instructor Jennifer Lech for Black History Month.

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Frederick Douglass Former slave, civil rights activist, women's rights supporter, author, public speaker, abolitionist Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. Harriet Tubman- escaped slave, nurse, Union spy, women's suffrage supporter, "Conductor" in Underground Railroad. Marcus Garvey- Civil rights activist, black nationalist, Founded Negro World newspaper, a shipping company, and Universal Negro Improvement Association. Where? USA, Canada, Ireland, UK, Netherlands and Germany all have official Black History Month celebrations, When? The US and Canada both celebrate in February. The UK, Netherlands, and Ireland celebrate in October. Germany tends to change when they celebrate and is often celebrated as a few days to a week in large cities. 2010- The History of Black Economic Empowerment, 2011- African Americans and the Civil War, 2012- Black Women in American Culture and History, 2013- At the crossroads of Freedom and Equality: The emancipation Proclamation and the March of Washington 2014- Civil Rights in America, 2015- A Century of Black Life, History and Culture. 2016- Hallowed Grounds- Sites of African American Memories, 2017- The Crisis in Black Education 2018- African Americans in Times of War 2019- Black Migrations 2020- African Americas and the Vote- 2021- The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity, 2022- Black Health and Wellness, 2023- Black Resistance. 2/14 Frederick Dogulass' Birthday- American abolitionist who escaped slavery and committed himself to social activism. 2/12/1909 Founding of NACP National Association for the Advancement of Colored People- Civil Rights Organization, 1976-President Gerald Ford declares February Black History Month. He encouraged everyone to honor accomplishments from the Black community. Since then, every president has declared February Black History Month