Black History Month

It’s Black History Month, a time of reflection on the many contributions of the Black community and culture to the rich diversity of our nation.

Did you know that 2026 will mark 100 years since Black History Month was founded?

In 1915, a Black man named Carter G. Woodson realized that many educational materials available at the time did not acknowledge the accomplishments and contributions of Black individuals on American history and culture. In response, he established an organization called the “Association for the Study of Negro Life and History.”

Eleven years later, on February 7, 1926, Woodson launched “Negro History Week” in an effort to spark conversations and bring awareness to the public about Black contributions to society. Although the dates were selected to coincide with Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass’ birthdays, Woodson believed that history was not found in great leaders as much as it was comprised of people.

Over the next couple of decades, this movement of sharing Black history and culture grew, and Black history was gradually incorporated into classroom textbooks and other educational materials.

Sadly, with more recent justice system reforms and the resulting generational incarceration, the number of positive Black influences has been significantly reduced. Today, one in 9 Black children has experienced parental incarceration, compared to one in 57 white children. This disproportionate effect on Black families and communities is also seen in Sparks’ students, with an average of 20% of our students being Black, second only to 71% of Hispanic students (and with 6% being white students).

Kids who experience parental separation tend to face greater difficulties with learning, which leads to decreased overall educational attainment. Learning is a primary vehicle through which they are able to avert the school-to-prison pipeline, achieve future success and make positive contributions to their communities.

Let’s help our children of incarcerated parents make their own positive mark on history. Through the support of music therapy, they will be empowered to stay in school, graduate and achieve their trajectory toward success!

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Sources:

https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/carter-woodson-black-history-month/rms

https://naacp.org/find-resources/history-explained/civil-rights-leaders/carter-g-woodson

https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/children-incarcerated-parents-more-likely-struggle-school-study-finds