On February 18, 2021, we gathered to discuss and share resources about Black History Month and how you use them to craft Children’s media. The conversation was led by the amazing Ed Greene, who graciously donated his time in memory of Erica Branch-Ridley.
Ed has been a CMA member since 2014. His passion and focus is on building culturally relevant partnerships, policies, and program practices that benefit children and families in the digital age. He formerly served as VP, Children, Youth, and Digital Media Literacy Initiatives at the Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network (HITN), and is currently a Senior Outreach Advisor at Wonder Why Consulting. Among his diverse experience, he was the director of global outreach for Sesame Workshop, a former elected board member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and currently serves as a trustee of the Coalition for Quality Children’s Media.
Below please find the resources shared by members as well as some CMA has compiled. Please read through them and reference this month, and throughout the year.
Additionally please continue to share anti-racism resources and use these assets as well: Resources About Racism and Bias for the Children’s Media Community.
Black history and American history are one and the same. We encourage everyone to spend time learning more about African American history during February and beyond.
See you at the next CMA Connect on March 18th!
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Black History Resources:
- The Association for the Study of African American Life and History is the founding organization of Black History Month. ASALH has chosen The Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity as the theme for 2021.
- The National Museum of African American History and Culture has planned a month of targeted programming that includes virtual programs for students.
- Blackpast is an online reference center that includes an encyclopedia of more than 4,000 entries, links to major African American museums and research centers and much more.
- USA Today published a list of new picture books and a list of recommended books for adults and teens.
- Learn more and engage with 1619 Project, which is working to develop curricula that reframes “U.S. history by marking the year when the first enslaved Africans arrived on Virginia soil as our nation’s foundational date.” Check out the curriculum resources here.
- Celebrate Black heroes with this great biographical resource from National Geographic Kids.
- The U.S. Department of Education offers some more general guidelines for a wide range of activities for cultivating a greater appreciation of African American’s in America’s rich culture.
- A Mighty Girl has curated several books for students about pioneering African American women throughout history as well as books about courageous girls and women of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement.
Resources shared by members at CMA Connect:
Research:
- OK Play/Nickelodeon presentation at Kidscreen (Infographic)
- UCLA Center for Scholars and Storytellers – aggregated research
Content:
- Rialto Readers Club – a FREE online book club for young readers, ages 8-15, who are interested in the performing arts, entertainment, and culture.
- Kidmap.org: Diversity Sauce Podcast and Kids Inclusive and Diverse Media Action Project
- Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o
- Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry
- Doc McStuffins
- Levar Burton’s Reading Rainbow
- Different and Differenter by Jyoti Gupta (Review by Ed Greene!)
- Vooks
- Black Education Matters – Daily Affirmations for Black Youth
- Netflix Black Children’s Book Series “Bookmarks”
- Ditto, an anti-bias, anti-racist kids magazine
- 100 children’s book featuring Black characters written by Black authors
- Canvas on Netflix
- WNET Talking to your Preschoolers about Race
- Look, Listen and Learn is a BIPOC-led children’s television show based out of Seattle, Washington
- When Good Fruits Go Bad By Vernon D. Gibbs and Steven T. Gray
- Upcoming PBS special Mr. SOUL!, airing on Feb. 22. (Note by recommender: Not “kids” specific, but worth a look!)
- Nickelodeon Interstitial Programming/Promos:
- Hero Song w/ Bubble Guppies & Blaze – Rhymes Through Times
- “Black History (It’s Yours)” – an original rap anthem that celebrates African-American icons and heroes from Rosa Parks to Kendrick Lamar.
- Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem – digital collections feature some amazing online exhibits, interviews, and podcasts
- The Conscious Kid – an education, research, and policy organization dedicated to equity and promoting healthy racial identity development in youth. We support organizations, families, and educators in taking action to disrupt racism in young children.
- Here Wee Read – Blog and IG featuring well curated books and experiences that are diverse and inclusive
- Teen Vogue 5 Young Black Activists Making History Right Now
- The Coretta Scott King Book Awards
- You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
Creators/Innovators:
- Joya Sherill – Joya’s Fun School was a children’s series that was produced and broadcast by WPIX-TV in New York City from March 1970 to December 1982.
- Emmanuel Carter – host of Noggin
- N.K. Jemisin – speculative fiction writer about the Black experience
- Idris Goodwin – playwright, breakbeat poet, director, educator, and organizer
- The Water Gun Song (for audiences age 6 and up) finds a parent trying to find the words to explain to a child why a water gun isn’t simply a toy
- Act Free (for audiences age 9 and up) finds three kids wrestling with the definition of freedom
- Nothing Rhymes with Juneteenth (for audiences age 9 and up) finds a child and a parent trying to complete a rap for a school presentation
- #MATTER (for audiences age 14 and up) is a two hander about former high school friends debating matters of life and race. (View the short film version here.)
- Black Flag (for audiences age 14 and up) finds two new dorm-mates excited to start their freshman year together, until one decides to decorate their room with a little piece of ‘Southern pride.’ (View the short film version here).
- Lorea Martinez – HEART in Mind Consulting, a company dedicated to helping schools and organizations integrate Social Emotional Learning in their practices, products, and learning communities
Content Development Resources:
Children's Media Association 