Online Discussion Questions for Black History Month
As the month of February comes to an end on Monday, I want to encourage teachers to engage students in culminating conversations about topics related to Black History Month. I have designed some questions that are compatible with Collaborize Classroom, but can be adjusted to work with a variety of online learning platforms.
Many teachers have spent the last month discussing famous African-Americans, and the many contributions they have made to our country. These questions are designed to support dynamic student driven discussions to conclude a unit on black history.
Yes/No Question:
Watch this clip of Maya Angelou titled “Reading Cures Ignorance of Racism.” Do you agree with Angelou’s statement that the only way we as a society will be free of the “blight of ignorance” is if we read and learn about African Heritage? Do you agree that reading, knowledge and education are essential to respecting differences and forming cross racial friendships? If so, why do you agree? If not, what do you think is crucial to eliminating ignorance between racial groups?
URL: www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3PbDogjHbA
Multiple Choice Question:
Choose an influential African-American figure from the list below to research then share what you learned about this person. What did he/she accomplish? What barriers or racial inequalities did this individual encounter? How did he/she prevail or succeed in the face of racism or racial barriers? How did he/she impact race relations in the United States? What did you learn about this person that surprised you? Be sure to develop your posting to include interesting details or quotes from your research.
- Thurgood Marshall
- Web Dubos
- Ella Baker
- Jackie Robinson
- Jessie Jackson
- Ida B. Wells-Barnett
- Fredrick Douglas
Vote or Suggest Question:
Who do you think is the most influential African-American of your time? Consider writers, singers, actors, activists, politicians, educators, etc. before answering this question. Clearly identify the African-American you think is most influential and explain why. Be sure to support your choice with clear reasons.
I’d love to hear from any teacher who uses these questions!
How did your discussions go? Did you make any adjustments to the questions that worked well for your students? What interesting insights did students share?
