In addition to learning and celebrating, Black History Month is also a time to pause and reflect. Beyond learning about history and celebrating achievements, February invites us, as an educational community, to think more deeply about lived experiences today and the realities that continue to shape them.
Reflection includes acknowledging the systemic barriers that Black communities have faced and continue to face, including anti-Black racism and discrimination. It also means listening to voices and experiences that may be different from our own, and considering how schools and classrooms can either reinforce or remove barriers to belonging. These conversations help build understanding, empathy, and respect..
For educators, families, and students alike, reflection can begin with simple but meaningful questions: How do our actions, policies, and practices affect others? Who feels seen, valued, and represented in our learning spaces, and who may not? Taking time to reflect helps us better understand our shared responsibility in creating inclusive, welcoming school communities where everyone feels they belong.