Incorporate Black History into Math
February is Black History Month. So why not highlight lessons that connect mathematics to Africans and African Americans?
By Donna Iadipaolo
February is Black History Month. So why not highlight lessons that connect mathematics to Africans and African Americans?
Looking to African culture generally, students could investigate the cultural and mathematical significance of geometric patterns from various African tribes. For instance, the art of the Kuba tribes is considered among Africa’s finest accomplishments. Also, one particular pattern of tessellating triangles is called balamwezi and represents the rising of the new moon. Balamwezi appears in the decorative art of many of the tribes in the Congo. The mathematical properties of the triangles making up the balamwezi and other patterns could be focused upon.
The text “Africa Counts: Number and Pattern in African Cultures” by Claudia Zaslavsky further explores patterns in African music, poetry, art, and architecture. The text also explores African methods for measuring time, distance, weight, and other quantities as well.
There are also mathematical avenues specific to African Americans. One area of particular interest mathematically and historically is the role that quilts played in the Underground Railroad. In the 1999 text “Hidden in Plain View: A Secret Story of Quilts and the Underground Railroad” authors Jacqueline L. Tobin and Raymond G. Dobard explore how certain patterns were used as signs to convey important messages to escaping slaves and their associates. For instance, “Jacob’s Ladder” and “Log Cabin” patterns have been identified as signals for runaway slaves on the Underground Railroad. The mathematical significance of quilts may be examined as well.
The Benjamin Banneker Association, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to mathematics education, advocacy and leadership for African-American students, has also published “African-American Innovators in Math and Science Posters” available through Key Curriculum Press. Through these posters and accompanying materials, students may learn about Benjamin Banneker, a prominent mathematician, astronomer, and surveyor. Check out these other lessons that relate Black History to math as well.
Lessons Connecting Math and Black History Month:
Students research African-American mathematicians. In this middle school mathematics lesson, students celebrate Black History by conducting Internet research on African-American mathematicians or scientists. Students prepare a written report on their findings.
Studying Black History Through Africa
Students do research on Africa. In this African life lesson students describe animals from Africa, list endangered species and describe African clothing and communication. Students use Windows to create their own finger-counting system and cloth pattern.
The African American Population in U.S. History
Students answer questions based on data presented to them about African American history. In this lesson plan, students look at tables and graphs pertaining to African Americans. They then answer questions based on those tables.
Students design a census class and school, then tabulate the results. They respond to a sample census, then reflect on why questions of race and national origin are different.
Jazz and Math: Improvisation Permutations
Students explore the various rhythmic combinations in jazz and blues music. They watch a video segment, apply a mathematical formula to calculate the number of possible rhythmic combinations and perform a combination of notes and rhythm on a keyboard.
