Black History Month: Remembering Black Immigrants

Black History Month began in 1926 to showcase the contributions of Black Americans during the month of February to celebrate the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas. As we turn to celebrate this important month, we cannot forget the growing population of African immigrants to the United States as well as the many contributions given to this country by Black migrants from overseas and within our borders. 

In honor of Black History Month, we have compiled a list of resources and activities to share with your students that focus on Black immigration to the United States. Have students use the following resources to create an infographic to explain the growth of African immigration patterns, reasons for immigrating and their influence on the communities they settle.

Black Immigration to the United States

Resources:

• Remembering Black immigrants during Black history month. 
• One-in-ten Black people living in the U.S are immigrants 
• Key findings about Black Immigrants to the U.S.
• Black immigrants in the United States face hurdles, but outcries vary by city.  

Activities:

• After reviewing the resources, students complete Project Zero’s Thinking Routine Connect-Extend-Challenge to discuss new learning.
• Have students create an infographic visualizing the growth of African immigration to the United States. 
• Allow students to discuss with a partner or group how America benefits from African migration. What do we all gain? 

Teaching about first generation students of African, Caribbean, and Afro-Latino immigrants

Resources:

• What it’s like to be the child of immigrants (Michale Rain- Ted Talk) 
• ENODI: ENODI highlights the lives of first-generation and immigrant people of African, Caribbean, and Latin descent who identify as Black.

Activities:

• As you watch the video, take notes to analyze the main idea of his talk. Use the Thinking Routine of the 3 whys to examine your notes and the idea of his talk. 
• Analyze the quote by Rain from the TED Talk: “We’re walking melting pots of culture, If something in that pot smells new or different to you, don’t turn up your nose. Ask us to share.”
  • Who is his audience?
  • Why does he use the analogy of melting pots? How does that relate to his topic and America? 
• How does the podcast ENODI help children of African immigrants navigate the world around them? 

Famous Black immigrants

Resources:

• 8 notable Black immigrants who fought for freedom in the United States
• Black History Month: 10 famous Black Immigrants
• 7 Haitian and African Immigrants Making America Great Now

Activities:

• Have students create a padlet to honor the work of African immigrants. Have students use Re-imagining Migration’s Learning Arc as a guide on what to include on their padlet.
• Jigsaw the resources so students are able to learn from more than one person. Have students complete a placemat activity to answer the questions from the Thinking Routine: Stories.