Black History Month

During this first week of Black History Month, I want to remind everyone that only 8 or 9% of history class time in US schools is devoted to Black history. Yeah, it’s staggeringly low. But also not at all surprising. After all, the people who have the power (usually white, cis men) get to write the history books—and tell us which stories and people mattered most. At PICTURESTART, we’re making it a priority to educate ourselves on the Black history we should have learned growing up. We’ll be sharing a new Tiny History Lesson each Wednesday on our Instagram, so follow along here, if you’re looking to expand your understanding of history as well.  

And in today’s email, we’re thinking about the spectrum of talented Black creators telling Black stories in every medium. That’s what this edition of PS Weekly is dedicated to celebrating—we hope you enjoy it! 

If you’re looking to get more quick bites of Black History lessons throughout the month, look no further than TikTok. Taylor Cassidy, one of my favorite creators on the platform, makes Fast Black History videos that educate viewers on notable Black figures in history. Taylor’s videos are fast-paced, digestible and fun, and also highly educational. While she’ll be releasing this series throughout the month, you can check out our favorites (so far!) here. 

Also on TikTok this week, I recommend checking out @laronhinesofficial. In his “Are you smarter than a preschooler?” series, La’Ron asks preschoolers various questions and films their responses. The confidence (and cuteness) of these kids is exactly what we all needed to cap off this seemingly endless workweek.

—Darlene Kenney, Marketing Assistant