CELEBRATE

BLACK

HISTORY

MONTH

Join us throughout February as we celebrate and learn more about Black History! These emails will be released each Friday of the month to provide insight and help us learn about the experiences of the Black community. As you scroll through the email, you'll find highlighted historical Black figures, Black arts/education, and featured local Black owned businesses in the area!

Historical Figures at a Glance

Carter G. Woodson

Born in Canton, Virginia to two slaves, Carter G. Woodson worked in the coal mines of Kentucky before attending doctorate school at Harvard. Woodson was the second African American to earn a doctorate degree and followed up by dedicating his life to learning about black history. Both an activist and author; his first book was The Education Of The Negro Before 1861.

He created his own publishing company so that African Americans' voices would be heard. Known as the Father of Black History, Woodson chose February to celebrate Black History Month. See the links below to learn more about Carter Woodson!

Carter G. Woodson Info

Fun Facts For Kids

Bessie Coleman

Bessie Coleman was a brave soul; she was the first African American aviator. One of thirteen children, Bessie was born on January 26, 1892 in Texas. Coleman briefly attended the University of Oklahoma before moving to Chicago where she worked as a manicurist and a restaurant manager. Following her stint in Chicago, she was accepted into the Caudron Brothers School of Aviation in Le Crotoy, France.

On June 15, 1921 she became the first African American woman to have an international pilot license from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale. Bessie specialized in stunt flying and parachuting. She returned to the United States where racial and gender bias prevailed, as Bessie could only get jobs that were stunt flying and barnstorming. Include your children in learning about Bessie Coleman while they color in a picture of her.

Bessie Coleman Bio

Muhammad Ali

Born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr., Muhammad Ali was a professional light-heavyweight boxer. Muhammad Ali's name was changed due to its correlation to being a slave owner.

Muhammad's goal was to be the best heavyweight, but he supplemented his time by also fighting for racial equality. Ali had a number of huge bouts, including winning the light-heavyweight title at the 1960 Olympics and his historic bout with Joe Frazier at Madison Square Garden.

Did you know that he sang in a Broadway musical called Buck White? Learn more about Muhammad Ali and include your kids while they color in a picture .

Muhammad Ali Bio

Black-Owned and Focused Businesses

Southern Cross Kitchen

Southern Cross Kitchen is local to Whitemarsh in Conshohocken With a wide variety of selections, there's something for everyone, but focused mainly on Southern delicacies. Enjoy your weekend brunch, lunch or dinner with a tasty craft cocktail to get the full experience!

Hours of Operation:

Mondays: Closed

Tuesday to Thursday: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Friday: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Sunday: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Southern Cross Kitchen

Gilbens Bakery & Specialty Sandwich Shop

If you’re feeling a little hungry around lunchtime, look no further than Gilben’s Bakery & Specialty Sandwich Shop. With cakes, pies, breakfast sandwiches and many other different sandwiches, this shop has it all. Shrimp po’boys and salmon po’boys are amongst their specialties, but you can't go wrong with any choice here!

Hours of Operation:

Sunday - Tuesday: Closed

Wednesday to Saturday: 11:15 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Gilbens Bakery & Specialty Sandwich Shop

Books

You can always discover more about Black history and one of those ways is through literature. Check out the books below for a starting point!

Muhammad Ali: A Kid's Book About Being Courageous

Muhammad Ali by Mary Nhin will help your children learn how to overcome insurmountable challenges. An inspirational book and great for motivation for young minds, we hope that it expands your child's horizons@

Purchase Link

All Because You Matter

In this children's book, Paula Young Shelton, daughter of Civil Rights activist Andrew Young, brings a child’s unique perspective to an important chapter in America’s history.

Purchase Link

Overground Railroad

The Overground Railroad teaches readers a story about traveling when you are unwanted in most places. This book will give you a whole new understanding of life through someone else's eyes.

Purchase Link

Turning 15 On The Road To Freedom

Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom is very inspiring and motivational as it explores the story of Lynda Blackmon Lowery.

As the youngest marcher in the 1965 voting rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, Lowery proved that teens can be heroes. Jailed eleven times before her fifteenth birthday, Lowery fought alongside Martin Luther King, Jr. for the rights of African-Americans.

Purchase Link

100 African Americans Who Shaped American History

Looking for more information on influential African Americans that you didn't know? This book will provide that and more, as you get a closer look into how and who has helped shape American history.

Purchase Link 

Roots: The Saga of an American Family

Written by Alex Haley, Roots: The Saga of an American Family is a story about an African boy who was taken from his family and brought to the United States. You can live an entire person's life in this book.

Purchase Link 

Colonial Middle School Second Annual Black History Book Drive

Colonial Middle School is starting its Second Annual Black History Month Book Drive. Help this Book Drive succeed by donating a book today!

To donate a book, simply visit their Amazon Wish List (link below), select a book, and choose to send it to the CMS Student Council sponsor, Mrs. Penrice, at checkout. To learn more about the Black History Book Drive and the process, click the link on the left, while clicking the link on the right will take you directly to the Wish List!

2nd Annual Black History Book Drive

Wish List