Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future: Black History Month with Your Kids

Written By Alli Lee

Learn about the foundation of Black History Month and how families can include their kids in the celebration. Explore modern Black change-makers, participate in local events, and enjoy a special coloring page from the Carver Community Center.

Black History Month honors the achievements and history of African Americans. It began as “Negro History Week” in 1926, chosen for its alignment with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. In 1976, President Gerald Ford expanded it to a month-long celebration. While figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., George Washington Carver, and Barack Obama are well-known, it’s also important to recognize that history is continuously being made—often by young people with big dreams shaping the future.

Here are three young Black change-makers of the 21st century:

  • Robby Novak, 9

    • Robby Novak, best known as Kid President, gained fame through a series of inspirational YouTube videos on SoulPancake in 2012. Created with his brother-in-law, Brad Montague, the videos encouraged kids to "make the world a little more awesome." Novak later appeared on TV shows, co-authored books, and continued making content.

  • Marley Dias, 10

    • At age 10, Marley Dias launched the #1000BlackGirlBooks campaign to collect and promote books featuring Black female protagonists. Through the Grassroots Community Foundation, her initiative has gathered over 13,000 books, which are cataloged in a database and distributed to schools and communities in need.

  • Jay’Aine “Jay Jay” Patton, 12

    • Jay’Aine “Jay Jay” Patton learned to code at age 10 and, by 12, developed an app for her father’s nonprofit, the Photo Patch Foundation, helping children communicate with incarcerated parents. She continues to inspire change alongside her father through Unlock Academy, an online coding school aiming to recruit 10,000 women of color into the tech industry.

Photo by Suad Kamardeen on Unsplash

Join in these local Black History Month events and experiences for the family:

For some added fun, our friends at the Carver Community Center wanted to help us learn more about Kokomo’s rich history. The coloring page was created by JC Barnett, executive director of the Carver Community Center.

“Black History Month is important to me because it puts a spotlight on family, who and where we come from, and why it is important to always remember,” Barnett said.

The Carver Community Center strives to honor and preserve Black history while uplifting, educating and inspiring the next generation. In a recent partnership with Bridges Outreach, the Carver Community Center now offers an after-school program for grades K–5. Participants will have access to snack time and other fun activities during the after-school program including art, tutoring, robotics, video gaming, music lessons, open gym time and more. Through the program’s partnership with Bridges Outreach, youth will participate in Bridges’ programming on Tuesdays and Thursdays and have  the opportunity to earn the opportunity to attend special events on Fridays or Saturdays. Registration and details are available on the Carver Community Center website.

Alli Lee
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