Black History Month: Connecting the Past, Present and Future
You may think that because history happened in the past, it doesn’t make much of a difference in the present. But it is important for kids and families to understand the relevancy of history. In fact, it can lead to a brighter future.
Why History Matters
“Connecting children to their own history, and to history in general, helps them understand their identity — their culture, their religious practices, how society works, how the world at large views them,” says Nafeesa Muhammad, an associate professor of history at Spelman College. “I tell my students, ‘History is good, bad and ugly.’ But history helps us understand.”
Current affairs and news make more sense when they’re placed in the timeline of history.
“There is a continuity between the past and present,” Muhammad says. “If children don’t understand civil rights legislation or affirmative action policies, it can be hard for them to understand what’s going on if they don’t know the basics of the Civil Rights Movement.”
Monica Croom and twin sons Jackson and Jonathan
“History is important in order for kids to be able to completely and holistically understand the world around them,” says Monica Croom, an Atlanta mother to 12-year-old twins, Jackson and Jonathan. “There are experiences in the present that may have happened in the past or experiences in the present that may have happened because of the past. History helps us to be in a better frame of mind to understand the world and contribute positively to it.”
Beyond the practical application of history, the subject also boosts children’s social and emotional development. History helps kids celebrate diversity and develop empathy for others.
Dontaye Carter, a Sandy Springs father to 6-year-old Kyleigh, mentors at local schools. “I encourage students to find out what they can about their classmates to help them understand others, and I’m seeing my daughter do that with her fellow first graders. Sometimes, we get caught up in pointing fingers at people. But what history has shown me is people are people for good or for bad, and we can be part of the story for the greater good.”
Connecting to history can help determine the impact you want to have on the future.
Dontaye Carter and Kyleigh
“The more and more I look back, I read, and I learn, I see that the characteristics of people don’t change,” Carter says. “Good people are good people no matter the political climate. We can see the interconnectedness of that in our own shared history and shared humanity, which can help us to inspire the next generation. If you look for hate, you’ll find hate. If you look for love, you’ll find it. You can acknowledge the bad but build onto the good.”
The month of February is Black History Month, a great opportunity for your family to dive into the history of African Americans.
“With Black history, you can’t separate it from American history, and you can’t separate it from world history,” Muhammad says. “It centers the story of tragedy and triumph, and it keeps people probing and understanding the story. Black history is tied to systemic racism, with Jim Crow policies and even why certain people may be canceled. If you don’t know African American history, you won’t know why this word or issue is problematic.”
Here are some ways for today’s parents to instill the connection of their past in their kids, making history accessible and interesting for your family.
Use Entertainment
Books and movies can be a powerful tool to entertain your children and start a conversation about history. Some books, like “Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry,” even have film adaptations for a movie night after reading.
“Think about documentaries and movies and what time period the film is probing,” Muhammad suggests. “Find primary sources and visit credible sites to learn more.”
Storytelling groups in the metro Atlanta can help history come to life, but you also can encourage your child to talk to family members and friends about their own pasts.
“Both of my parents are graduates of Clark Atlanta University, and they are proactive in explaining history and how they were able to overcome things,” Croom says. “These conversations are important — we’ve come a long way, but there’s still more conversations to be had and more work to be done to be an equitable, diverse and inclusive world. It gives me a sense of pride and a desire to want to continue achieving and moving forward.”
Connect to Family History
During the winter holiday break, Carter and Kyleigh went on a road trip to explore their family history. Previously, Carter had found his relative, John Phillips, through The National Archives at Atlanta.
“Like most African Americans, we’re cut off from our history,” Carter says. “The identity we have is what’s been created here in America. My goal as a parent is to make my child the best she can be, which is rooted in a firm foundation of who she is. The blind spots I had coming up and searching for my identity, I wanted to make sure my daughter didn’t have. That was the impetus for going on this search. Most people look at the past, and they see pain. Looking back at the past, I saw context and hope, and I want to pass that on to my daughter.”
The duo traveled to Valley Grande, Alabama, where John Phillips was born enslaved on the Phillips Plantation, which is where he got his last name. The plantation is gone, but Carter wanted to witness the land with his daughter.
“It was one of the larger plantations during that time. Seeing that it was outside of Selma, I started connecting these dots,” Carter says. “This is an area where, because there were so many enslaved, they were working to register voters. It brought the Civil Rights Movement to life for me and how it’s connected to us.”
Carter explored his lineage using Ancestry and African Ancestry. He found his ancestors are from Portugal. “I didn’t know any of that, and I went to Lisbon to see the history there. It becomes much more real when you’re immersed in it.”
Even without travel, families can use resources to connect with their history.
“Think about the personal history of the family. Why does the child have the last name that they have? What about tracing the origin and meaning of that name?” Muhammad suggests. “Create a family historical timeline using Ancestry and the internet and find coinciding events. If your great-grandmother was born in 1920, what else happened in 1920?”
Go on a Road Trip
Kyleigh Carter on Selma visit
While in Alabama, Carter and Kyleigh traveled to Selma to visit The National Voting Rights Museum & Institute. Connecting to history with your young child may help you look at history in a new light.
“It’s bananas seeing history through the eyes of someone so small,” Carter says. “She’s trying to understand everything, so I’m talking to her about it. It’s great to have these conversations with her when she can look and see people who made an impact on history and looked like her.”
Croom has visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. “I wanted my boys to experience it,” Croom says. “The exhibits have displays that are interactive versus just reading. It was fascinating.”
She also has been to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati. “Sometimes, you hear kids say, ‘If that was me, I wouldn’t have dealt with that.’ You got to pretend you were a slave escaping a plantation, and there were real-life obstacles and things you were running into,” Croom says. “It was realistic of the struggles and setbacks you would have encountered. I did it a couple of times, and each time, I was caught. It developed a very real and practical picture of how difficult this must have been. I recommend these exhibits not just for children of color, but for all children to have a complete understanding of the world around you and people you live in it with.”
Don’t Be Afraid of Difficult Conversations
While at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Croom’s sons had a difficult time understanding that Thomas Jefferson had children who were slaves. “They really just couldn’t wrap their brains around it, so we had to have a conversation about that.”
Exploring history requires time and dedication, and your child will need your help navigating the subject.
“History is so complex,” Carter says. “Without context, it just leaves crazy emotions. Now that we know our history, we have an opportunity to decide what our future is going to look like and how it works for everybody.”
When discussing history, be prepared to talk about it.
“History can be painful and not pretty, but we are working to improve and do better,” Croom says. “Don’t not have the conversation. Whatever the history, you can build your empathy, understanding and ability to collaborate with people of different races.”
Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site
Visit Local Sites
You don’t have to travel very far to explore Black history. There are many local resources for families to visit.
“There’s the APEX Museum, the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights,” Muhammad says. “Take it out of the books and see history in action.”
“Make an outing of it, learning and growing as a family together,” Croom says. “Take your kids and have a chat about the positive contributions of Black people to society.”
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) play an important role in history. The Atlanta University Center Consortium is made up of four institutions: Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine and Spelman College. It is the world’s oldest and largest association of HBCUs.
History can inspire children to look to their own future.
“Colleges have visitation policies. It’s as simple as going to the website to set up a visit and go on a walking tour,” Muhammad says. “Kids can see firsthand other students who look like them and are seeking higher education. Use colleges and universities as spaces to inspire children as sites of learning.”
Use Your Resources
Use the internet for research. Find websites that will make history appealing and age-appropriate for kids, and visit museum websites to view their resources.
Each year, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History notes a theme for Black History Month. In 2025, the theme is “African Americans and Labor.” Use their website to explore the creation of Black History Month, topics, workshops and more.
Ancestry.com Articles of Enslavement
Muhammad recommends visiting Ancestry’s Articles of Enslavement, a historical collection. “Parents can sit down with their children and teach their kids how to navigate the site, which can be a hands-on project for families.”
From January 30-February 1, the Georgia Archives and the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society Metro Atlanta Chapter is hosting a 2025 African American History & Genealogy Symposium. You can also visit them or explore their website to learn more.
Celebrate your local community and support Black-owned businesses.
“History highlights the experience, contributions and resilience of Black communities,” Muhammad says.
Explore History Throughout the Year
Keep exploring beyond Black History Month. Throughout the year, there are ways to make history interesting.
“Black history intertwines with the holidays throughout the year for an opportunity to learn African American history all year long with local and historic events,” Muhammad says. “March is Women’s History Month, so why not learn about the contributions of Black women? For Juneteenth, learn about the Civil War and emancipation.”
Throughout the year, Croom recommends keeping up with the offerings from local museums, sites and theatres. “Current events are a great way to keep the conversation going,” she says.
