Beyond the Past: Teaching Black History Through Present Realities and Future Visions

Black History Month offers a valuable opportunity to reflect on the achievements, resilience, and contributions of Black Americans. However, truly honoring Black history requires more than recounting the past—it means recognizing how history shapes the present and future. 

Let me be clear: this is not exclusively a home conversation or a school conversation. Educators, parents, and caregivers ALL play a vital role in bridging these connections for young people, ensuring that Black history conversations remain relevant and forward-thinking. These conversations are for everyone—regardless of race or age—because we all benefit from a thoughtful, developmentally-appropriate exploration of race and culture. As a White educator and parent to a toddler, I recognize that this applies to me just as much as anyone else.

So let’s dive into some things to keep in mind and some actionable takeaways (along with valuable resources) to guide these important conversations with the young people in our lives.

Disclosure: As an Amazon affiliate, I may earn a small commision at no cost to you if you decide to purchase any of the books I’ve recommended by clicking on the links in this post. If you can, I encourage you to first check with local Black-owned bookstores or the authors’ websites before purchasing via the links below.

Why Go Beyond the “Greatest Hits” of Black History?

While leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks are pillars of Black history, limiting discussions to a small group of figures risks erasing the rich tapestry of contributions made by countless others. Teaching about inventors like Lewis Latimer, trailblazing journalists like Ida B. Wells, and modern changemakers like Stacey Abrams paints a fuller picture of Black excellence.

Idea for Educators: Design a "Hidden Figures" research project where students explore lesser-known individuals across fields like art, science, activism, and sports. For students ages 10 and up, pair it with a viewing of the Hidden Figures film, based on the inspiring true story of the African American women who worked at NASA and helped launch the manned spaceflight program in the 1950s and ‘60s.

Idea for Parents: Visit museums (in person or virtually), online exhibits, or read books that highlight a range of Black voices, from Harlem Renaissance poets to contemporary STEM leaders. My toddler loves her Vashti Harrison board books and her Little Legends: Exceptional Men in Black History and Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History books are perfect for school-aged children.

Pairing History With Present Realities

Black history is not confined to the past. Systemic racism, social justice movements, and ongoing contributions by Black leaders continue to shape society. Discussing these realities helps children and teens connect historical struggles to the world they see today.

For Littles (Early Childhood): Use age-appropriate books like Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry (also available in an Oscar-Winning Short Film) to celebrate Black joy and affirm self-love.

For Middles (Tweens and Teens): Encourage discussions about current events topics like environmental justice, voting rights, and Black Lives Matter and link them to historical movements such as abolition, suffrage, and the Civil Rights Movement.

Introducing Afrofuturism: Imagining New Possibilities

Afrofuturism—blending Black culture, science fiction, and speculative storytelling—offers a powerful way to envision a brighter future for Black communities. Some of my favorites for teens:

• Books like Octavia Butler’s Kindred (I’m particularly fond of the graphic novel adaptation and there was also a television version produced by FX in 2022) offer a compelling introduction to Butler's work and the afrofuturism genre through the graphic novel format, blending historical and speculative fiction. 

• Nnedi Okarafor’s Akata Witch (the first book in The Nsibidi Scripts trilogy) is affectionately dubbed “The Nigerian Harry Potter.” I taught a novel study of this one to my sixth graders and they absolutely loved it.

• See You Yesterday is a 2019 Netflix film about two Black teens who invent a time machine to save a loved one, addressing both the excitement of sci-fi and the challenges of systemic racism.

• Janelle Monáe's Dirty Computer (Emotion Picture) – A visual album blending music and storytelling that explores identity, freedom, and empowerment in a dystopian world.

Classroom Idea: Host an interdisciplinary Afrofuturism Day where students design futuristic cities, technologies, or art that centers Black culture. Better yet, incorporate a whole Afrofuturism unit, exposing students to literary texts in the genre while making connections to African geography, history, and culture.

Family Idea: Watch Afrofuturist movies together, such as Marvel Studios’ Black Panther (2018) and discuss the themes, asking questions like:

• How does the film highlight aspects of African history and culture?

• What does the film say about race and the experiences of Black Americans?

• What kind of future world would you want to build?

By integrating past, present, and future perspectives, we empower young people to see Black history as a living, evolving story. Whether you're teaching in a classroom or guiding conversations at home, these approaches not only honor Black history but also inspire the next generation to contribute to a more equitable and imaginative future.

Black History Month is not the only time for having these conversations, so let’s keep the dialogue going. Share your ideas and favorite resources in the comments below or on Instagram to help others create more dynamic and ongoing lessons and conversations!