Are you a teacher searching for Black history month ideas and materials? Searching for videos that apply to America’s history, and are great for Black history month? Need videos to add to a powerpoint lesson? Here are a few online video clips that show a glimpse of civil rights issues and/or teach about Black history.
Martin Luther King “I Have a Dream” Speech
This 17 minute Youtube Clip shows Martin Luther King’s famous and brilliant “I have a dream” speech. It has well over 5 million views. It provides a glimpse of August 28, 1963 – the day that Martin Luther King gave his speech in Washington. It also shows some very brief clips from the March on Washington. It shows clips of people listening in the crowd as well. This clip is one of the (if not the) most important videos that teach about black history.
Harriet Tubman Documentary
This is an edited documentary on the life of “the Black Moses” Harriet Tubman. It is brief, but talks about the tragedy of slavery, and how Harriet Tubman put her life on the line to save others from slavery. It tells her biography, and her contribution to society. Historians tell the story of slave runaways, safehouses, and the underground railroad. It is great for students grades 3rd grade and up.
Little Rock Nine – 50th Anniversary
This is an excellent glimpse that provides an overview of President Eisenhower’s Executive Order 10730 to help end segregation and the nine African American students, nicknamed the “Little Rock Nine”, who were the first African American students to attend Little Rock high school. It provides comments and memories from one of the nine students, Mr. Earnest Green. I highly recommend this video.
Rosa Parks (Mother of Civil Rights)
This is a very brief clip, but it is an outstanding short clip for a powerpoint presentation. It shows pictures of Rosa Parks and details how the Civil Rights Movement was born after she refused to give up her seat on the bus. It is a great introduction video to a lesson on Rosa Parks or the Civil Rights movement
George Washington Carver
This two minute clip discusses the extraordinary accomplishments of George Washington Carver, a famous scientist and innovator. It tells how he overcame the barriers of his childhood as the child of slaves, received a degree in botany, and made a difference in agriculture and farm economics. It includes lots of good photos.
These are just a few excellent videos available on Youtube. Another video to check out is JFK’s speech on civil rights here. There are numerous other great videos available on Youtube – just choose a person to search and more than likely you’ll find one.
