Welcome to Exploring Black Patriots
Exploring Black Patriots intertwines the experiences of outstanding African American patriots with engaging activities and discussions that encourage children to practice integrity, perseverance, and responsibility. Each day, black heroes are highlighted who overcame hardships to achieve meritorious accomplishments that impact our country even today.
Message
The curriculum is designed to motivate children to pursue excellence, positively impacting the course of their lives as well as others. It is intended that the sessions also impart understanding and appreciation for the freedoms that were established by our founding fathers through the principles stated and executed in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The children learn that this foundation is most beneficial, and that it was constructed for a people who earnestly desire to seek their personal potential and apply upright principles to their lives. This idea is manifested in the lives of the black patriots the children explore. The concepts and virtues emphasized include:
- Truth:
- Understanding the truth is the foundation of making wise decisions and structuring one's beliefs and behaviors.
- Seeking the truth through personal investigation of original sources is a fundamental element of independent thinking.
- Uncover the truth by being alert and exercising your personal knowledge and logic when analyzing a situation.
- Integrity: Integrity is an essential building block of sound character which begins on the inside and is revealed in outward conduct.
- Persistence: Persistence calls for patience and often repetition, but when practiced can enable you to overcome obstacles, setbacks, and even failures. This can potentially lead to vast and significant impacts on your life and the lives of others.
- Responsibility:
- Responsible personal conduct is often a prerequisite for success and happiness.
- Negligence towards personal responsibility can have a detrimental impact on the whole community.
- Personal responsibility requires you to be keenly aware of your surroundings and the impact your words and actions have on others.
Program Description
Exploring Black Patriots can be presented to children of late elementary through high school ages in communities and/or schools by any motivated adult or group of adults with a desire to positively impact the youth in their community. Each of the four days can be presented in a session lasting about two hours. The program was created to be offered once a week during the four weeks of Black History Month (February). However, the sessions can be offered in a variety of settings at any time of the year.