Let’s go! This class will take students virtually all around the nation and broaden the students' understanding of the university/college by providing them with a general history of the institution, primary documents, videos or interviews and writing prompts. Various topics will be explored in the modules including student protests, political engagement on college campuses, homecoming and its significance, and modern celebrities and their support for HBCUs.
Discuss critical issues facing Black people today to lead a better future tomorrow. Students will be able to develop and sharpen their advocacy skills to be the leaders of today.
Learn about the past, present, and future of Black music. Students will hear songs from multiple genres - blues, hip-hop, bluegrass, jazz, and rock - and find out about the legendary Black musicians who are responsible for bringing each genre to life. This class is based on Black Music Is, a book by Marcus Amaker - Charleston, SC's first Poet Laureate. Students will have a chance to respond to the music, and hear songs from current musicians who are keeping history alive.
Students will experience and enact the power of the written word, oration and rhythm. This course is for writers, poets, performers, and every level of energy in between.
Through observing, interpreting, and evaluating African art and music, students will explore some of the major dynasties across the continent. Using music from different regions in Africa, students will explore the diversity of post-colonial Africa.
Explore the birthplace of civilization. This course focuses on the stories of Black culture and heritage told through the rich energy of African music, lyrics, architects, careers, and history.
More food, more culture! Create meals that incorporate ingredients from traditional Caribbean cuisine – sauteed greens, spiced potato and plantain chips, banana bread, rice and peas with coconut, jerk chicken. Classes will provide the history and health benefits of each dish as well as a guided cooking tutorial.
Featuring renowned economist Roland Fryer, the youngest African American to be given tenure at Harvard University and co-founder of Reconstruction. In this class, Roland will discuss the life and work of Black geniuses – both historic and contemporary – in social justice, academics, the arts, and education with a particular focus on how their life and work affected economic thought.
It is never too early to explore careers in science, technology, engineering and math.
Get to know foundational texts from the classics to emerging staples that delve into the existence of the African diaspora and the historical context of where society and culture stand today. Though the time periods and authors span centuries, many ideas and revelations are grounded in the same roots. This course includes works from Alex Haley, Frederick Douglass, Carter G. Woodson, Yaa Gyasi, and Ibram X. Kendi.
Led by the S.T.E.A.M Nanny herself, these classes will engage shorties in activities that integrate the arts into learning about key concepts in science, math, technology and engineering. Classes are open-ended and encourage children to build self-confidence, improve their communication, cognition, and extend their self understanding and cultural awareness. Each class features a notable Black professional and culminates with a project inspired by their genius. S.T.E.A.M. is all about science, technology, engineering, art and math!
Students will develop increasing reading confidence as they learn to read more and more complex words with an emphasis on vowel sounds and spelling alternatives for vowel sounds. They will practice with various spelling patterns that can stand for more than one sound, read one- and two-syllable words, contractions, and more high-frequency words. Finally, students will demonstrate their powerful decoding skills by reading longer stories and poems, opening a world of Black history, knowledge, and culture.
Through rich traditions of rhythm, rhyme, & movement, students will continue to develop the phonics skills that are at the root of literacy. Sprout Up emphasizes the most common spelling patterns as well as several spelling alternatives for consonant and vowel sounds. Students will practice with irregular spelling patterns, multisyllabic words, making nouns plural and changing spelling when adding suffixes. Working with high-frequency words in poems and stories, students will broaden their language and build knowledge of Black history, knowledge and culture.
Learn about significant Black accomplishments from past to present. Students will be able to learn and identify some of the key players in history who continuously inspire and influence the Black experience in this country.
Learn about the culture, traditions and famous alumni of Historically Black Colleges & Universities. Students will be able to understand more about the establishment and validation of HBCUs across this nation.
Learn about Black innovators who changed our world and beyond. Students will learn about the significance of Black creators and inventors in our everyday lives through the facets of math and reading.
Explore the endeavors of Black professionals in every field. Learn about promising careers that have very little representation from Black people.
Learn the rules of dominoes, variations of game play and practice with peers with support from our skilled Reconstruction tutors. Dominoes is an integral part of Black culture, learn in a safe space and have fun!
Dream big in these classes that cultivate leadership in industry and society. Students are invited to bring their creative energy to each class session.
Explore Wakanda with your favorite Black Panther characters. Students will explore the social, economic, and real life impacts of Black Panther as it relates to our everyday lives.
Featuring Marcus Amaker, who was named Charleston, SC’s first Poet Laureate in 2016. Marcus loves doing poetry workshops and speaking to students and students love learning with Marcus! As Poet Laureate, Marcus wants students to know that their voices matter, and it’s important to him that he shares his knowledge about being a poet and an artist. Students will be exposed to and create beautiful poetry.
Developed by the Folger Shakespeare Library, this course delves into the intersection between African-American life and Shakespeare, from stage productions to personal and academic encounters with the texts. Students will examine some of the many ways that Black Americans have encountered, responded to, taken ownership of, and sometimes turned away from Shakespeare's words.
Classes available on Wednesdays throughout the summer. This session will be dedicated to self care and community care. Using artistic/restorative practices as the setting to build and promote wellness. We will also discuss ways to bring this into our lives daily. The journey includes: breath work, mediation and physical movement. Please create a space that is soothing and allows you to feel at peace.
This course will encourage independent thinking and build self-confidence. Students will utilize their imaginations to create towers and other interesting structures with toothpicks and clay. They will learn about Phllip Freelon, the architect and designer behind the creation of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. Students will use these skills to further develop out of the box thinking, a critical skill to use in all aspects of life. Materials include toothpicks, modeling clay or play dough.
These classes are designed to celebrate the history of the holiday and provide opportunities to discover your own special ways to promote Black freedom in your communities. You’ll definitely want to sign up for more Reconstruction classes after this day of learning and jubilee!
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