Black History Month
Week One: Historical Black Philadelphians
Week Two: Little known facts about Black History
Week Three: Notable Black graduates of Big’s college
Week Four: How to contribute to history
Highlighted Dates:

February 1, 1960- Four African Americans students sat down at a Woolworth’s store
after being refused service. The scene was repeated over the next few days, with
protests to other southern states.

February 3, 1870 – The 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified,
guaranteeing the rights of citizens to vote, regardless of race, color, or previous
condition of servitude.

February 11, 1990 – In South Africa, Nelson Mandela, at age 71 was released from
prison after serving 27 years of a life sentence on charges of attempting to overthrow the
apartheid government. He was elected President in the first all-race elections in 1994.
Week One: Historical Black Philadelphians
Examples: Marian Anderson, John Coltrane, Paul Robeson, Cecil B. Moore, & W.E.B DuBois
Supplies: magazine clippings; color paper; crayons/markers; glue sticks
Engagement: Ask Littles “Do they know any historical Black figures that have lived in
Philadelphia?” Do they know any areas of the city that are important to Black History? (The
Johnson House in Germantown was used as a “station” on the Underground Railroad)
Interactive: Bigs and Littles will create a board about the historical Black Philadelphian and use
magazine clippings and drawings to demonstrate the things they accomplished.
Wrap Up: Discuss with your Little about other notable Black figures they are inspired by and
interesting things they’ve seen about their own neighborhood.
Make It Big!
215.790.9200 | Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. | bbbssepa.org
Week Two: Little-known Facts
Examples: W.E.B DuBois was the first African American to earn a Ph.D from Harvard. And
conducted one his earliest study “The Philadelphia Negro” based on the 7th Ward and the Fire
Engine Company 11, which is located on South Street.
Supplies: Color paper & crayons/markers
Engagement: Share with Littles some little known facts that you’ve researched about black
history.
Interactive: Share with Littles some little known facts about yourself and engage Littles to share
some little known facts about themselves. Create a poster of any similar little known facts about
each other.
Wrap Up: Discuss what you’ve learned about each other.
Week Three: Historical Black Graduates
Examples: W. E. B DuBois (UPenn); Jill Scott (Temple); Dwight Evans (LaSalle)
Supplies: Poster board & crayons/markers
Engagement: Ask Littles “what is their vision for their own future will be for going to college?”
“Are there any colleges they would like to go to or learn more about?”
Interactive: Create a vision board of all the things your Little would like to accomplish including
college, career, and personal goals.
Wrap Up: Discuss how you achieved your own goals to get into college and your goals for your
own career.
Week Four: Contributing to History
Discuss how your Little would like to contribute to the history of their school, family, and country.
And share your own aspirations to be a contributing person at your school, family and country.
Make It Big!
215.790.9200 | Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. | bbbssepa.org