Celebrating Your Child’s Black History & Culture Beyond February

A helpful guide for parents who transracially adopted black children

Parents have a responsibility to bring elements of culture into the home and in daily activities (food, games, holidays, entertainment, etc.). For those who adopt children transracially it is important to incorporate their culture into your family in more ways than one. February is nationally recognized as Black History Month. Although there are a plethora of educational and fun events celebrating black history, you can still celebrate throughout the year and here’s how!

Take a Trip to the Library

Introduce your children to books with black protagonists and written by black authors. Most importantly, make sure to read a mix of books that are educational as well as entertaining. While you’re searching the internet, we highly recommend these children’s books to incorporate into the bedtime story lineup:

“Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History” by Vashti Harrison

“Joshua by the Sea” by Angela Johnson

“My Aunt Came Back” by Pat Cummings

“The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats

“Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race” by Margot Lee Shetterly & Winifred Conkling

“Princess Hair” by Sharee Miller

“Bippity Bop Barbershop” by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley

“I Have A Dream” by Martin Luther King Jr. (An illustrated version)

Learn and Explore a Museum

There are a variety of museums throughout the country dedicated to African American history and culture. In addition to educating adults, many of the museums have interactive exhibits catered to young children as well.

African American Museum in Philadelphia – Philadelphia, PA

National Museum of African American History & Culture in D.C.– Washington D.C.

National Civil Rights Museum– Memphis, TN

Stax Museum of American Soul– Memphis, TN

Negro League Baseball Museum– Kansas City, MO

August Wilson Center for African American Culture– Pittsburgh, PA

Mississippi Civil Rights Museum– Jackson, MS

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center– Cincinnati, OH

Support Your Local Black-Owned Business

Support black entrepreneurs who own businesses both big and small. Fun Fact: August is Black Business Month. In the meantime check out the Official Black Wall Street App, a source for black owned businesses in your area.