Black history: start with the source

A question is a better starting point than a slogan

Choose a specific person, place, object, or period to investigate. A broad label such as Black history contains many different experiences; a focused question helps you notice whose story you are reading and whose perspective is missing. The Smithsonian’s Teaching and Learning resources offer ways to connect historical objects, cultural literacy, and multiple perspectives.

Separate observation from interpretation

The Library of Congress distinguishes original materials from later accounts that analyze or retell them. A photograph can show what was in front of a camera, but its caption, creator, date, and intended audience affect how it should be read. Compare an item with another source before turning an interpretation into a historical claim.

• Record the creator, date, collection, and source link.
• Write what the source shows separately from what you infer.
• Ask whose voice is represented, and seek a contrasting or supporting account.
• Check reproduction rights before reusing an image in a performance or handout.