Opinion
Social Studies Opinion

Black History to Spark Meaningful Conversations: A Resource List

Books and a film to empower educators to engage with Black history and racial literacy
By Daphanie Bibbs, Dawnavyn M. James & De'Ana Forbes — January 30, 2025 5 min read
A pile of vibrantly colored reference books.
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation (book)
Anna Malaika Tubbs’ The Three Mothers brings to light the overlooked stories of Alberta King, Louise Little, and Berdis Baldwin—the mothers of Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin, respectively. Tubbs reclaims their narratives, illustrating how these women shaped their sons’ ideologies, resilience, and activism while navigating the dual oppression of racism and sexism in America.
Through meticulously researched biographies, Tubbs unpacks how each mother’s life experiences and values informed her son’s work as activist, writer, and leader. Alberta King was a community leader and spiritual guide, Louise Little was a fiercely independent Garveyite activist, and Berdis Baldwin was a storyteller and nurturer who encouraged intellectual curiosity. Together, their lives highlight the interconnectedness of motherhood, activism, and Black resistance.
By centering the often-overlooked voices of Black women, the book challenges educators to rethink historical narratives that prioritize the achievements of Black male leaders while sidelining the contributions of women. It provides a framework for teaching intersectionality, illustrating how racism, sexism, and classism intersect in shaping lives and movements.
Moreover, it reframes leadership by recognizing care giving, nurturing, and community-building as essential forms of activism, inspiring students to value collective efforts and unseen labor. For Black students, especially girls and young women, the stories offer empowering representations of resilience and strength, while for all students, the book fosters empathy, critical inquiry, and a deeper understanding of social justice.

Daughters (documentary)
Directed by Natalie Rae and Angela Patton and available on Netflix, “Daughters” is an eye-opening exploration of the complexities of Black girlhood and womanhood. Through a masterful blend of personal narratives, expert commentary, and archival footage, the 2024 film examines how systemic inequities ripple through generations, shaping the lives of Black women and girls.
A significant focus of the documentary is the enduring impact of mass incarceration on Black families. By centering the stories of daughters of incarcerated fathers, “Daughters” reveals the emotional toll of separation, the stigma carried by affected families, and the resilience forged in the face of such adversity.
By examining how incarceration perpetuates cycles of poverty and instability, the documentary highlights the ways Black girls gain strength from their mothers, mother figures, extended families, and communities. These insights make “Daughters” a valuable resource for educators seeking to understand and address the structural challenges faced by Black students and their families.
In portraying both pain and joy, the film offers a multifaceted portrayal of the experiences of Black girls and women. For educators, the narratives presented offer a deeper understanding of the resilience and agency of Black girls, alongside strategies for fostering supportive educational environments.
The film’s rich visual composition and soulful soundtrack amplifies its emotional depth, making it an engaging and transformative tool for both instruction and critical dialogue. In classrooms, workshops, or professional development settings, “Daughters” could spark thoughtful conversations about equity, justice, and the role of education in addressing structural inequality. Its thought-provoking narrative encourages reflection on the need to support and uplift Black women and girls, both within educational contexts and beyond.

Pro-Blackness in Early Childhood Education: Amplifying Black Joy in K-3 Classrooms (book)

This guide calls for early-childhood and elementary educators to reexamine their pedagogy and curricular materials for anti-Black bias. Though the title names K-3 classrooms as the focus of this book, the practices and learning opportunities presented throughout can be used in both secondary classrooms and teacher-preparation programs.
Authors Gloria Swindler Boutte, Jarvais J. Jackson, Saudah N. Collins, Janice R. Baines, Anthony Broughton, and George Lee Johnson Jr. lay out practical routines and approaches for educators to teach and learn about pro-Blackness.
Throughout the chapters, readers get peeks inside the classrooms of educators who model what pro-Blackness looks like as a curricular foundation. The text highlights valuable curriculum materials that affirm and inspire all children and introduces ways readers can honor Black cultural knowledge. The guide also explores how educators can prepare themselves and learn about Black people, history, and culture in ways that enhance their curriculum and pedagogy.
With book lists, lesson ideas, resources, and stories from the early-childhood classroom, Pro-Blackness in Early Childhood Education provides practical examples of what it means to truly love, honor, and affirm Black children, their histories, and their culture.

We Refuse: A Forceful History of Black Resistance (book)
In this book, author Kellie Carter Jackson dissects the various ways throughout history that Black people have resisted oppressive systems and forcibly responded to white supremacy, with a particular focus on Black women leading the charge. She counters the false historical notion that Black resistance exists in either the “nonviolent” approach of Martin Luther King Jr. or the “by any means necessary” approach of Malcolm X. Jackson defines refusal and journeys through historical events such as the American Revolution, the Haitian Revolution, the Civil War, the Harlem Renaissance, and more to explore the breadth of Black resistance.
The five chapters in the book are dedicated to revolution, protection, force, flight, and joy. Educators can use the historical content and principles Jackson details in each chapter to teach history in a way that centers the humanity of Black peoples.
For example, to sharpen historical-thinking skills of corroboration, sourcing, and close reading, students might evaluate Jackson’s definition of revolution and her claim in Chapter 1 that “the American Revolution was not revolutionary.” This claim could serve as an introduction to the American Revolution and be reframed as an essential question: “Was the American Revolution revolutionary?” In a classroom environment, educators may consider focusing on how the American Revolution actually impacted various groups, with a substantial focus on the role and outcomes of Black peoples, and allow students to dispute or confirm Jackson’s conclusion about the American Revolution.

Explore the Collection

Read more from educators on advancing Black history education.

Social Studies Opinion What Students Have to Say About Their Black History Class
Here’s what made these high school seniors sign up for an African American studies course—and what they’ve learned.
Geoff Wickersham
1 min read
A crowd of abstract multicolored silhouettes of people made in the collage style. A metaphor of unity and partnership.
iStock/Getty images + Education Week
Social Studies Opinion Black History to Spark Meaningful Conversations: A Resource List
Here are several books and a film to empower educators to engage with Black history and racial literacy.
Daphanie Bibbs, Dawnavyn M. James & De'Ana Forbes
5 min read
A pile of vibrantly colored reference books.
Dumitru Ochievschi/iStock + Education Week

Related Tags:

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Assessment Webinar
Reflections on Evidence-Based Grading Practices: What We Learned for Next Year
Get real insights on evidence-based grading from K-12 leaders.
Content provided by Otus
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Student Well-Being Webinar
Creating Resilient Schools with a Trauma-Responsive MTSS
Join us to learn how school leaders are building a trauma-responsive MTSS to support students & improve school outcomes.
School & District Management Live Online Discussion A Seat at the Table: We Can’t Engage Students If They Aren’t Here: Strategies to Address the Absenteeism Conundrum
Absenteeism rates are growing fast. Join Peter DeWitt and experts to learn how to re-engage students & families.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Social Studies Oklahoma Draft Standards Ask Students to Find 2020 Election 'Discrepancies'
The standards intimate that the 2020 presidential election results might not be trustworthy.
4 min read
Ryan Walters, Republican state superintendent candidate, speaks, June 28, 2022, in Oklahoma City.
Ryan Walters, then a Republican candidate for the state superintendent of education, speaks at an event June 28, 2022, in Oklahoma City. While leading the state education department, he has overseen a draft of the state's social studies standards that critics say distorts the role of Christianity in the nation's founding and suggest that the 2020 presidential election had "discrepancies."
Sue Ogrocki/AP
Social Studies Opinion 5 Strategies for Teaching Social Studies in Turbulent Times
Giving students the chance to “tug” at current events enables them to explore the historical roots of contemporary issues.
7 min read
Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week
Social Studies Opinion The Problem With Primary Sources in Black History Education
Do you know how to put Black history sources in context?
Abigail Henry
5 min read
A hidden library of knowledge behind the curtain of a classroom.
Islenia Mil for Education Week
Social Studies Opinion The Three Essentials of Teaching a Black History Class
Launching a new Black history course is a challenge. It should be.
Greg Simmons
4 min read
Papers fall from a hand withholding a pile of papers from students underneath it.
Islenia Mil for Education Week