February Events & Updates, No 2

Greetings!

The San Francisco Public Library is holding a Black History Month event with community partners on Saturday, February 22. Details on this event are below, along with insights, book recommendations, and links to a conversation with Dr. Gregory Carr, which inspired the beginning of my month, and I wanted to be sure to share with each of you.

From Carr's talk:
Black History Month was started in 1926 by Dr. Carter Woodsen as Negro History Week “to deepen the study of Black people in world history and extend to humans in history. What would this lead to? Getting rid of [the concept of] whiteness.”

Why was a week in February chosen? Dr. Woodsen selected the second week of February to coincide with the recognized birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 12) and Frederick Douglass (Feb. 14). Frederick Douglas’ actual birthday was unknown to him, but he selected February 14 for the memory of his mother calling him “her valentine.” In 1970 Negro History Week was expanded to Black History Month by Black student and educators activists, and has been officially recognized by US presidents since 1976.

A great book to add to your children’s library, Carter Reads the Newspaper tells the Carter’s story. Carter’s own book, The Miseducation of the Negro, written in 1933, is still relevant for educators today.

Listen to Dr. Gregory Carr’s full presentation on Dr. Carter Woodsen and the origins of Black History Month here.
 
Hope your month is full of Black History insights that meaningfully deepen your day, and those around you. Have something to share? Send it my way.


Thanks,

Sara Hicks-Kilday
ECESF Director

Talking with Kids about Race and Racism
A Discussion of Reparations and Justice with Keynote Speakers Alison Collins, Gabriela López and Mariposa.

Join us for an afternoon of conversation about talking with kids about reparations and accountability and what Indigenous families and Black and other families of color need in the pursuit of justice. Keynote speakers will explore these issues together, and then participants will continue the conversation in groups facilitated by  Teachers 4 Social Justice .

When: Saturday, February 22, 2020. 2:00 - 5:00 pm
Where: San Francisco Main Library, 100 Larkin Street, Koret Auditorium

Children’s programming and childcare facilitated by  Abundant Beginnings  and  Bay Area Childcare Collective .

Presented by San Francisco Public Library with community partners:  Our Family Coalition ,  Teachers 4 Social Justice ,  Abundant Beginnings ,  Showing up for Racial Justice San Francisco  (SURJ SF) and  Bay Area Childcare Collective . Thank you to  First 5 California  and  Golden Gate Mothers Group  for their generous support.