Black History Cartoons have a unique ability to bring history to life in ways that feel personal, engaging, and accessible for kids. Through animation, complex topics like the Civil Rights Movement, systemic racism, and Black innovation become easier to understand, opening the door for meaningful conversations about identity, equality, and resilience. These stories spotlight the courage and perseverance of Black icons while grounding history in real people and real moments.
Growing up as a mixed-race child, half African American and half Caucasian, I often felt like I was navigating two worlds at once. I wanted to connect more deeply with both sides of my heritage by learning about traditions, stories, food, and cultural history, but kid-friendly entry points were limited.
As a Millennial growing up in the early 2000s, the only Black history cartoons I remember were Our Friend, Martin and The Proud Family’s “I Have a Dream.” I didn’t truly discover shows like Liberty’s Kids until I became a parent and started watching PBS Kids with my own children. Today, there is far greater access to thoughtful Black history and other culturally relevant cartoons, and sharing these stories with my kids has become a meaningful way for them to learn about their heritage.
These cartoons help children understand that history is shaped by everyday people who choose to act with courage and purpose. By following the journeys of Black activists, artists, civil rights leaders, and inventors, kids gain exposure to stories that are often underrepresented in traditional classrooms. That’s why Black History Cartoons matter, because they help foster a broader worldview while celebrating the legacies that continue to shape our world.
I’ve included a synopsis about each cartoon episode which includes spoilers, but also highlights the lives of these extraordinary figures from history. I’ve also included what each episode teaches children about black history.
Editor’s Note: A majority of the episodes on this list come from a series that our staff highly recommends: Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum, a cartoon series about Xavier, his sister, Yadina, and their friend, Brad, who meet heroes from the past.
Our Friend, Martin (1999)
Miles and his best friend Randy explore Martin Luther King Jr.’s childhood bedroom at his former home, now a museum. At first, the boys believe the museum’s curator, Mrs. Peck, is unaware that they are secretly time-traveling through Dr. King’s life over several days to complete a school project. She soon catches on, however, and warns them not to interfere with the fabric of time, cautioning that even small changes could have serious consequences.
Their journey first takes them to Dr. King’s teenage years, where they witness a painful moment of racism involving a friend’s mother. Later, they meet him again at age fifteen, after he has graduated high school early and returned home to visit family. The most frightening moment occurs when Reverend King learns that his home has been bombed while his wife and infant daughter were inside—fortunately, no one is harmed.
Meanwhile, their classmates Maria and Kyle grow suspicious of why Miles and Randy keep returning to the museum. Eventually, all four children time travel together to the March on Washington. When they later read about Dr. King’s assassination in a museum newspaper clipping, they panic and travel back to his teenage years in an attempt to bring him to the present. This decision drastically alters the timeline, transforming the modern world into one as segregated as it was in the 1940s through the 1960s.
Realizing their mistake, the group returns Dr. King to his rightful time. A time-lapse shows him aging back into adulthood before the sound of a gunshot is heard, restoring the timeline and underscoring the gravity of his legacy.
What “Our Friend Martin” Teaches Kids About Black History: Systemic racism wreaked havoc in the 1900s until the Civil Rights Movement put segregation to a momentous end. Black history is shaped through real people like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. whose courage and dedication to the cause changed the world into what it is today.
Racism and hate affected Dr. King’s young life, motivating him to fight with peace and dignity to make a change for minorities and women. Individual actions matter in creating the world we live in today, and destiny is what it is to build a better tomorrow. Even if that destiny is an unfortunate death, a Black history figure’s legacy does not end when their life does. It carries on for many years to come, inspiring new generations, laws, attitudes, and norms.
I Had A Dream From The Proud Family (Season 1, Episode 15)
Penny and her friends are assigned to dress as African American icons for a Black History Month assignment in class. Then, they must present relevant information about their assigned individual in a verbal presentation. Sticky must dress as Al Sharpton, Dijonay must become Bessie Coleman, and Penny must transform into Angela Davis. Zoey dresses as Madam C.J. Walker, and LaCienaga becomes Shirley Chisholm. Penny takes Puff to the groomers before school, and they both get trapped in a windstorm.
They land back in time in the 1950’s where her friends are segregated based on skin color. Penny attends class where the Caucasian janitor in her world is now the history teacher in this time-travel back in time. She informs the class about contributions from many Black innovators.
What “I Had A Dream” Teaches Kids About Black History: Penny’s speech about the contributions of Black icons helps kids understand the important roles they play in shaping America as it is today. Colin Powell was an African American who served as Secretary of State from 2001 to 2005. He was the highest-ranking African American in the executive branch until Barack Obama became President in 2008.
Garrett Morgan invented the modern three-way traffic light still used today back in 1923. Daniel Hale Williams opened the first hospital in the United States to be desegregated in 1891. He was also the first person ever recorded to perform open-heart surgery.
The Proud Family is an excellent cartoon series that has landed on many of our “best of” lists because of its ability to both entertain and education children. The 2022 reboot, The Proud Family: Loud And Louder is also an excellent option for kids looking for a more modern update on the classic cartoon series.
Juneteenth From The Proud Family: Louder And Prouder (Season 2, Episode 10)
Maya discovers that Smithville’s founder was a slave owner. Her adoptive father, Barry, is a direct descendant of Smithville’s founder, Christian A. Smith. Emily is a young woman from the late 1800s whom Maya sees only during the episode. She finds Emily’s journal buried near Mr. Smith’s statue and shows it to Brother Kwame and her friends. It was believed that Emily was a ghost who was murdered for attempting to celebrate the first Juneteenth.
Brother Kwame tries to petition Wizard Kelly to end the celebration for the founder, but he doesn’t listen. Even Barry doesn’t confront his ancestral history of his family being slave owners until they all land in jail for Maya and supporting peers standing up for Juneteenth against the city’s founder.
What “Juneteenth” Teaches Kids About Black History: Celebration combined with hard truth-telling makes Black history what it truly is: the core. Acknowledging the full historical record helps children and adults learn the full compass of Black History. Slavery and oppression were rampant in the 1600s to 1700s.
Systemic racism and a lack of human rights in the 1900s for African Americans caused many issues until the Civil Rights Movement was enacted in 1964. Standing up for historical accuracy and racial justice sometimes comes with consequences, but it’s the right path to meaningful change.
I Am Zora Neale Hurston From Xavier Riddle And The Secret Museum (Season 1, Episode 13a)
Brad writes a comic he’s been working on for a while. Xavier and Yadina are excited to read it once he finishes. However, Brad is iffy about anyone reading this comic because it is very personal. The kids visit the secret museum and meet the famous author, Zora Neale Hurston. It’s revealed that she loved listening to the stories people told at the local corner store where she used to live.
This was one of the circumstances that sparked her love of writing. She connects with Xavier, Brad, and Yadina to discuss her personal stories and best-awarded works. This experience encourages Brad to eventually share his authored comic book with his friends.
What “I Am Zora Neale Hurston” Teaches Kids About Black History: Children learn about one of the many Black writers who influenced 1900s literature. Black history goes deeper than being preserved through the biggest events. They are also captured in everyday stories from ancestors, oral traditions, and personal experiences that paint an enhanced picture of African American culture and identity.
Creative expression can be vulnerable and empowering at the same time, but it’s better for Black icons to share their stories with the world to refine overall history rather than hiding it.
I Am Grandmaster Flash From Xavier Riddle And The Secret Museum (Season 2, Episode 5a)
Xavier is hosting a live dance party. He only has a recorder that he can play “Hot Cross Buns” on. Not wanting to disappoint the friends he invited, Yadina and Brad go to the Secret Museum to find an inspirational solution. Berby takes the kids to New York in 1974 to meet Grandmaster Flash and see how he uses a turntable to make vibrations with the needle to create innovative, groovy music. He shows the trio how he experiments with the turntable to keep the “get down” part of the music going for partygoers.
Flash uses felt to help the record on the turntable move easily, keeping the “get down” going. He purchases a copy of the same record so he can keep the music going back and forth without stopping. Xavier is inspired to experiment with how he can create live music for his dance party back at home.
What “I Am Grandmaster Flash” Teaches Kids About Black History: Grandmaster Flash was born as Joseph Saddler, an experimenter with music. He immigrated to the United States with his family from Barbados and grew up in the Bronx, New York. Flash was the first to move the record on a turntable while playing, laying the foundation for rap music and earning his title as the Founding Father of Hip-Hop.
His work in the music industry inspired rap groups including Public Enemy and Run-D.M.C. in the 1980s and modern rap stars like Kendrick Lamar.
Arthur Takes A Stand From Arthur (Season 21, Episode 4b)
Arthur hears from Mrs. MacGrady, the school lunch lady, who says that she is the only one working in the kitchen to provide breakfast and lunch for all the students. He is disturbed to hear this news, realizing that she is getting overworked without any help. Ms. Tingley, the school secretary, informs Arthur that the school board’s budget cannot afford a cooking assistant for Mrs. MacGrady.
She informs Arthur that serving breakfast was her idea and that she is determined to keep it going so that kids who do not have access to it at home can enjoy it at school. Steadfast, peaceful protest combined with moral courage changed the world for the better.
Meanwhile, everyone is preparing for Congressman John Lewis to come visit the school. He is reading a book in the school library as Arthur wakes up from a nap. Lewis informs Arthur that if something is bothering him about Mrs. MacGrady’s lack of help, he should continue to take action to make a change.
Arthur starts a sit-in, refusing to move from his cafeteria seat until Ms. Tingley hires help for Mrs. MacGrady. Congressman Lewis brings flowers to Mrs. MacGrady. He greets her with a smile, saying she hasn’t changed since the March on Washington. Ms. Tingley agrees to petition the school board to hire a cooking assistant the next morning.
What “Arthur Takes A Stand” Teaches Kids About Black History: Children learn how laws and norms were changed through the nonviolent actions of John Lewis, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and other prominent civil rights leaders in the 1960s.
Sit-ins and boycotts were peaceful protests African Americans and their allies used to desegregate public buses, restaurants, schools, and other businesses and organizations. Violence and aggression weren’t necessary for African Americans to be heard about their desired changes to receive basic human rights.
I Am Maya Angelou From Xavier Riddle And The Secret Museum (Season 1, Episode 19a)
Brad witnesses a sibling argument between Yadina and Xavier. The brother and sister declare they will never speak to one another again. Of course, Brad wants to keep both of his friends, but now he must tiptoe through this new complexity. Despite this argument, Brad encourages Xavier and Yadina to accompany him to the Secret Museum, where they meet Maya Angelou, an accomplished poet, civil rights activist, and, later in life, an actress.
Maya teaches the Secret Museum heroes that words can be used for good or ill. Words cannot be taken back once they are said and can have dire consequences for one’s self-esteem. Yadina and Xavier make reparations for their last argument and vow to use their words only to do good.
What “I Am Maya Angelou” Teaches Kids About Black History: Maya Angelou was a powerful voice in the 1900s through her poetic work and activism during the Civil Rights Movement. Her self-expression inspired other African American authors, including Alice Walker and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Even rappers like Tupac Shakur and Nicki Minaj drew inspiration from Angelou’s powerful poetic works.
I Am Frederick Douglass From Xavier Riddle And The Secret Museum (Season 1, Episode 19b)
Xavier is annoyed with his homework because he has to learn big words he doesn’t understand. This state of discomfort drives him, his sister, Yadina, and his friend, Brad, to visit the Secret Museum. They meet Frederick Douglass, an African American pioneer of education and antislavery writings in the mid-1800s. Douglass informs Xavier that he wasn’t allowed to attend school because of his skin color. He pushes through by reading books and collecting observations as a slave in his lifetime.
Eventually, he served as a United States Marshal for the District of Columbia from 1877 to 1881, among other important government positions, before his death. Xavier receives the inspiration he needs to press through his schoolwork and continue learning.
What “I Am Frederick Douglass” Teaches Kids About Black History: Education was a powerful tool for Black icons to advance despite systemic racism. Enslaved individuals were deliberately denied an education to keep them as lower-class members of society.
Douglass and other African American icons read books, developed writing skills, and listened attentively to what was happening around them to keep learning. Obtaining an education is a privilege and a right of all individuals.
Jamaica Day From Lyla In the Loop (Season 1, Episode 24b)
Lyla’s father is perfecting her mother’s family’s Jamaican hot pepper soup recipe. Mom is delighted with the taste and flavor notes. She asks Lyla and Luke to transition from playing tag to preparing for their Jamaica Day party. Liana and Louisa will play steel pan music while Mom decorates with Jamaican flags and streamers.
Mom tells all her children about the Anansi folktale to celebrate Jamaica Day. Lyla and Luke turn this story into a live puppet show for their party guests. Luke plays Anansi, Lyla plays Goat, and their elder sisters create music to accompany the puppet performance. The family puts on a great puppet show that all the partygoers love.
What “Jamaica Day” Teaches Kids About Black History: The roots of Black history go further than events during slavery in America and the Civil Rights Movement. Learning about culture and the stories passed down through generations preserves Black history in a much more meaningful way.
Children learn about how the Anansi folktale, indigenous foods, and regional music honor Jamaican heritage. Celebrating traditions with family strengthens pride in your roots and enhances your identity and connection to your ancestry. Kids will be encouraged to explore their family’s traditions, which are a living part of history that shape individuals into who they are today.
I Am Rosa Parks From Xavier Riddle And The Secret Museum (Season 1, Episode 26a)
When my daughter came home a few days ago and told me she had learned about Rosa Parks, I knew I had to show her one of these black history cartoons about the legendary seamstress-turned-civil-rights-activist. Xavier, Brad, and Yadina visit the local museum and see a large bus in a new exhibit. They can board the bus and interact with what’s inside. They fight over who will honk the horn first, and they soon realize they’re inside the Secret Museum.
The kids learn that everyone should be treated equally when they meet Rosa Parks. Hearing of the unfair treatment she endured as a child and adult, Xavier, Yadina, and Brad see the courage it took to stand up for herself and the rest of the African American community by not giving up her bus seat in 1955.
What “I Am Rosa Parks” Teaches Kids About Black History: Youth learn that Rosa Parks was one of the many individuals involved in desegregating public transportation. This cartoon can unlock learning about other brave women who did the same thing, in not giving up their seats, before the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Claudette Colvin, who recently passed away on January 13, 2026, refused to give up her bus seat on March 2, 1955. Rosa Parks didn’t give up hers on December 1, 1955. Aurelia S. Browder, Mary Louise Smith, and Susie McDonald were also arrested for that same infraction.
I Am Thurgood Marshall From Xavier Riddle And The Secret Museum (Season 1, Episode 26b)
The episode starts with Xavier puzzled over who will get the biggest piece of pie and who will get the two smaller ones amongst him, Yadina, and Brad. The Secret Museum heroes visit their favorite place and meet a Black history icon who has solved great conflicts before: Thurgood Marshall. He brings the kids back to his house, where he is about to feed his pets carrot treats. He breaks the biggest carrot into pieces, so all his pets get an equal amount.
What “I Am Thurgood Marshall” Teaches Kids About Black History: Fairness to all, no matter their race, background, or gender, is the right thing to achieve. Thurgood Marshall’s career as a lawyer and later as a Supreme Court Justice helped many cases that came across his desk to be solved justly and fairly. His ability to solve problems peacefully through the legal system ensured people of all races and backgrounds could receive due justice in their civil cases.
I Am Harriet Tubman From Xavier Riddle And The Secret Museum (Season 1, Episode 27)
Yadina, Xavier, and Brad are having a heated discussion about who was the best hero in history. They visit the Secret Museum and are greeted by a woman who embodied many traits of a humble hero in her lifetime: Harriet Tubman. As a young girl, she’d sneak out from her slave master’s home to meet with her parents.
As she became an adult, she guided her parents and other African American slaves through the Underground Railroad to their freedom. Tubman informs the Secret Museum Heroes that she kept the courage to continue to the end until everyone was able to secure their freedom from slavery.
What “I Am Harriet Tubman” Teaches Kids About Black History: Many historical accounts of famous Black figures depict them persevering through dangerous circumstances. These leaders risked it all to help others become free from slavery, lack of human rights, or other immoral types of mistreatment.
Courage and compassion can change so many lives by going against the grain to develop new norms for society. Tubman showed the world that people could band together to find their own freedom from a society that believed segregation was the answer.
I Am Wilma Rudolph From Xavier Riddle And The Secret Museum (Season 1, Episode 28a)
Xavier has a big competition in track and field coming up. He is not as skilled as his peers, so he is thinking about quitting the sport. Yadina and Brad bring Xavier to the Secret Museum to meet Wilma Rudolph, an international Olympic track-and-field legend.
Wilma encourages Xavier to try his best in his track and field endeavors, even if he is a little behind everyone else. She demonstrates to him that hard work and dedication, despite personal fears and discouragement from naysayers, can lead to success.
What “I Am Wilma Rudolph” Teaches Kids About Black History: Children can learn about one of the dominant sports celebrities in Black History. Rudolph became known as the fastest woman in the world when she won a bronze medal in the 4×100 relay at the 1956 Olympics.
Wilma Rudolph’s resilience, overcoming childhood polio and working towards perfecting her track and field skills, contributed to her overall career success. Many circumstances can get in the way of success, but it matters how you react and keep working toward your goal.
I Am Jesse Owens From Xavier Riddle And The Secret Museum (Season 1, Episode 29a)
Brad and his friends go bowling together in one of these other black history cartoons about a famous track-and-field runner. He is ready to show off his bowling skills, but a noisy player in the next lane kills his concentration. Yadina and Xavier witness Brad sitting down in frustration as he waits for his next turn.
They take a break from their bowling game and go to the Secret Museum to meet the famous African American track athlete, Jesse Owens. He showed the kids how he sped past the negativity and racism to achieve the titles he did in the track and field. Brad returns to bowling, focusing less on the background noise and more on his form.
What “I Am Jesse Owens” Teaches Kids About Black History: Children will learn about another famous Black track-and-field athlete from the 1900s. Jesse Owens competed in the 1936 Berlin Olympics and won 4 gold medals in track and field events. This made him the first Black athlete to win that many gold medals in a single Olympic event. Tuning out other distractions and focusing on the main goal is the key to success.
I Am Ella Fitzgerald From Xavier Riddle And The Secret Museum (Season 1, Episode 29b)
Yadina, Brad, and Xavier are invited to a dance party. Brad is excited to go, but he is iffy because he is nervous about dancing around other people. He feels he cannot dance as well as everyone else does. They go to the Secret Museum to find a historical icon that will inspire Brad to stand up to his fear. Ella Fitzgerald guides Brad through his insecurities about dancing by sharing her challenges as a famous performer.
She was nervous about an audition dance at the Apollo, but she did something different instead: she sang. Despite not dancing as well as the others, she used her strengths to win the competition anyway. That was the climactic moment that kick-started her career as a famous Black performer. At the dance party, Brad shows off his unique dance moves, making his friends happy.
What “I Am Ella Fitzgerald” Teaches Kids About Black History: African American performers utilized their gifts rather than conforming to society’s expectations to transform fear into self-confidence in their craft. Fitzgerald embraced the unique qualities that made her who she was to pave her way to success.
She’s an example of the self-belief and self-confidence that Black artists had to build within themselves to make changes in American history. Fitzgerald improvised melodies while singing jazz songs. She recorded more than 2,000 songs during her singing career.
I Am Bessie Coleman From Xavier Riddle And The Secret Museum (Season 2, Episode 2a)
The Secret Museum heroes are on a hike with other friends in their nature troop. A giant fallen tree blocks their path to climb to the top of the hill. Berby the robot transports Xavier, Yadina, and Brad to the Secret Museum, where they meet Bessie Coleman. She tells the trio that you can’t stop if you are determined to reach your goal.
Coleman was too short to pick a pear off the tree and found tools to push some of them off. She shows the Secret Museum heroes how she broke color barriers to become a pilot by learning French and going to Franc,e where more women are allowed to attend pilot school. The kids are transported into the future and see that Bessie indeed becomes a pilot through perseverance and determination.
What “I Am Bessie Coleman” Teaches Kids About Black History: Children learn that Coleman was the first African American and indigenous aviator to take flight in the United States. She opened the door of opportunity for other Black pilots to follow in her footsteps, including Janet Bragg, Willa Brown, the Tuskegee Airmen, and Cornelius Coffey.
Breaking those color barriers welcomed diversity into the flying industry as more Black pilots took to the skies after Coleman’s career. It’s a great lesson that investing heart and true grit will get you to where you want to go.
I Am Benjamin Banneker From Xavier Riddle And The Secret Museum (Season 2, Episode 3b)
Yadina is having trouble solving a riddle that her teacher assigned in class. Her, Brad, and Xavier visit the Secret Museum for help. Benjamin Banneker meets with them and encourages Yadina to embrace riddles and try her best to solve them. Doing so could make her proud of herself.
The kids are puzzled that his mom gives him a riddle as a reward after he plants crops, but they realize these riddles help him think critically and gain knowledge. Then, they travel 12 years later, where Banneker is making a larger-scale clock based on a pocket watch a friend lent to him.
What “I Am Benjamin Banneker” Teaches Kids About Black History: Innovation takes dedication and invested time to become a reality. Many African Americans had to educate themselves to make the big advancements they desired for the world. Benjamin Banneker endured prejudice as a free Black man because he lived in a slave state.
He built the first fully working wooden clock in the 1750s, which remained operational for many years after construction. It took a lot of time to develop these time-keeping masterpieces, but teaching himself mathematics and astronomy made it easier to build them.
I Am Alvin Ailey From Xavier Riddle And The Secret Museum (Season 2, Episode 8a)
Yadina proudly informs Xavier and Brad that she has been assigned a singing solo in a school concert. Aunt Lucia plans to come to the concert to support Yadina, but she’s at a loss about what to do because she understands Spanish best, and all the lyrics are in English. The trio visits the Secret Museum to see which hero can help them.
They meet Alvin Ailey as Berby transports them to a room in 1942, where Ailey hums and dances. He’s transferring to a new school and hummed words to a song to keep his fears in check. Soon, the kids are asking Alvin to participate in their school choir. They go 18 years after that instance and see that Alvin has now become a dancer and choreographer.
Yadina realizes, through Ailey’s guidance, that dance and music can bring people together. Hence, she sings her solo in Spanish, making Aunt Lucia very happy.
What “I Am Alvin Ailey” Teaches Kids About Black History: Children learn that Alvin Ailey’s desire to spread the love of music and dance helped him excel far in his life. The authenticity and originality of African American dance were translated nationwide and across other cultures, encouraging the Black community to stay inspired to always create.
He founded Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1958, where performers could rehearse and put on local shows in the building’s performance space.
I Am Madam C.J. Walker From Xavier Riddle And The Secret Museum (Season 2, Episode 13a)
Xavier is setting up a lemonade stand to earn money for a pogo stick. He discusses with Yadina and Brad whether it is worth keeping up his efforts. The friend trip visits the Secret Museum to discover a hero who can encourage Xavier to keep pushing towards his goal. Berby transports them to Louisiana in 1872, where they meet Madam C.J. Walker, the first female self-made millionaire because of her specialty hair products for African American Women.
In her childhood, she got her chores done in exchange for her mom doing her hair how she wanted. The kids are transported to 33 years later in Colorado, when Madam C.J. Walker is experimenting with a hair remedy to help black women’s hair and start her own business. Then, they go to a hair salon in Indiana 6 years later and see how Ms. Walker’s hard work helped her to launch the business of her dreams. Xavier returns home and keeps up with his lemonade stand to earn that pogo stick.
What “I Am Madam C.J. Walker” Teaches Kids About Black History: Children learn a fun fact about Madam C.J. Walker. Her birth name was Sarah Breedlove. Walker’s character in Xavier Riddle And The Secret Museum teaches youth that the choices you make in the present can help you get what you want in the future. She invested her time in perfecting her hair products to launch her business.
Ms. Walker was the inspiration for other Black female entrepreneurs to achieve financial freedom and start their own businesses. Agents who sold Walker’s products earned money for their time through commissions on sales.
Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty draws inspiration from Madam C.J. Walker’s Black beauty haircare line. African American entrepreneurs maintained perseverance and resilience through their hard work to reach where they wanted to be while shaping various segments of American history.
Cowboy Howard From Alma’s Way (Season 3, Episode 1b)
Howard is inspired to find a Black cowboy locally after reading a book about African American cowboys. Alma hears this and wants to make Howard’s dream come true. They go on an adventure to the Bronx to find a Black cowboy, which proves more challenging than they expected. Eventually, they meet Mr. Reeves riding on his horse.
Howard is in awe of meeting a real cowboy. Mr. Reeves calls Howard a true cowboy because he has the spirit, even though he doesn’t know how to use a lasso or ride a horse. Throughout their journey, Howard and Alma helped various animals and people, which supports Mr. Reeves’ claim that Howard is a true cowboy.
What “Cowboy Howard” Teaches Kids About Black History: The Smithsonian reports that 25% of cowboys in the nation are African American. Unfortunately, this group of cowboys is sometimes underrepresented. Cowboy culture isn’t limited to Western geography. Children learn that cowboys can be anywhere besides the West.
Many individuals ride horses in the Bronx and other big cities to get around busy stand-still traffic. Black cowboys played an important part in American history by developing cattle drives and doing ranching in the 19th century. Now, they develop more modern equestrian communities in the suburbs and big cities.
I Am Katherine Johnson From Xavier Riddle And The Secret Museum (Season 2, Episode 14b)
Yadina is gathering information for a class presentation on turtles while her class visits the library. Xavier and Brad see her reading at the turtle section. She questions whether she likes turtles so much, seeing that she is the only student who reads about them during library time. They visit the Secret Museum in 1925 to meet Katherine Johnson, who shares her passion for math and counting.
Yadina and the boys are transported 39 years in Virginia, where they learn Katherine Johnson was working at NASA. The young turtle lover returns home, able to accept her passions and continue preparing her class presentation.
What “I Am Katherine Johnson” Teaches Kids About Black History: Black icons all had the passions they pursued that inspired them to change the world. For Katherine Johnson, she was among the first Black female mathematicians to work with NASA. She used her mathematical skills to help astronauts land on the moon through rigorous calculations, enabling the first moon-landing mission to land the Eagle with Apollo 11.
She calculated the moon’s rotation, how many days it would take the astronauts to reach the moon, and how far the moon would move during their journey to help the mission succeed. Her life’s work is later portrayed in the live-action movie, Hidden Figures.
I Am Edmonia Lewis From Xavier Riddle And The Secret Museum (Season 2, Episode 16b)
Xavier is trying to make a picture for his mother that represents their entire family. He, Brad, and Yadina visit the Secret Museum to find a hero to inspire his art project. Berby transports them back in time to meet Edmonia Lewis, who was a famous African American and Native American artist and sculptor. She faced prejudice as a minority female while making great strides in the art industry.
The systemic racism and discrimination did not stop her from becoming the first Black and Native American sculptor to gain national and international recognition for her work. Her character highlights one of the many important lessons in black history cartoons: that individuals should be proud of the art they create, as it represents who they are.
What “I Am Edmonia Lewis” Teaches Kids About Black History: Black artists persevered through resistance from naysayers. Art can honor family, identity, culture, and many other segments of meaningful life. African American innovators stayed true to themselves and made advancements in their chosen industries.
Their stories are shaped more by activists and leaders during the slavery period and the Civil Rights Movement than by others. African American creatives challenged societal limitations to express their lived experiences and reach others who resonate with their artistic expression.
I Am Gwen Ifill From Xavier Riddle And The Secret Museum (Season 2, Episode 18a)
Yadina is bored, trying to find something to do, after her mom asked for help with a job at the local museum. Xavier and Brad meet her, then go to the Secret Museum. They met Gwen Ifill when Berby sent them to New York State in 1964. Gwen teaches them how important it is to ask questions to gain understanding.
She takes them to a local shop to sample rice pudding and asks the owner questions about the dish’s ingredients. Ifill gives them a choice between visiting a local playground and a library. They chose to visit the mobile library because Yadina took the time to ask questions about it before deciding that it was more exciting than going to the playground.
What “I Am Gwen Ifill” Teaches Kids About Black History: African American innovators learned to ask questions like Gwen Ifill to build understanding, educate themselves, and seek the truth while challenging misinformation. This kept leaders accountable for their claims and endeavors in their chosen industry.
Ifill was the first African American woman to host a popular political talk show in America, thanks to her journalistic background. Her career’s pinnacle also included serving as the co-anchor for PBS NewsHour with Judy Woodruff from 2013 until she passed away in 2016.
Born Free And Equal From Liberty’s Kids (Season 2, Episode 6)
Sarah’s mission is to ascertain civil rights for Miss Betty and her daughter, a black servant of Colonel John Ashley. She connects Betty to Mr. Sedgwick, the best lawyer in town, who is also a close friend of Betty’s master. Despite such a conflict of interest, Mr. Sedgewick accepts Miss Betty’s case, and they go to trial to fight for her freedom.
After many ups and downs during the proceedings, the jury finds that Miss Betty should be freed from her servant duties to Colonel John Ashley and awarded shillings for her services since she was 21 years old. Betty also gives herself a new name to celebrate her freedom: Elizabeth Freeman. She hugs her daughter affectionately, reminding her that she secured their freedom as she promised all along.
What “Born Free And Equal” Teaches Kids About Black History: The idea of freedom for black individuals was continually challenged during America’s founding days. African Americans utilized the legal system to challenge unjust laws and demand their rights as human beings.
They maintained courage and perseverance while making allies with Caucasians who were against enslavement and the subpar treatment of African Americans. Black history is interwoven into the fight for American freedom in the early years of the nation’s founding.
I Am Jackie Robinson From Xavier Riddle And The Secret Museum (Season 2, Episode 21)
Xavier and Harper are sitting at lunch together. Harper’s dad made her spicy Jamaican patties while Xavier’s grandmother packed him tostones. Brian comes to them and makes fun of them for eating “weird food” while calling sandwiches “normal food.” Harper leaves the table with a loss of appetite.
Brad and Yadina come up excited to eat their lunch. Yadina, Xavier’s sister, is ready to eat her tostones, and Brad wants to dive into eating his matzah balls. They all go to the Secret Museum to find a hero to help with their situation: Jackie Robinson. The episode shows how Jackie endured racial discrimination even while playing backyard baseball during his youth in his local community.
When Berby takes them further into Robnin’s life in 1945, he reveals how the Negro baseball league got paid less than the White leagues. They were also treated differently in that White players were allowed in hotels and restaurants while Black players were turned away.
The episode shows Robinson being welcomed into the Brooklyn Dodgers in Major League Baseball and how he proves his greatness despite racial discrimination from Caucasian players. In the end, Brian comes back, apologizes to Harper and Xavier for calling their food weird, and takes time to learn about each dish.
What “I Am Jackie Robinson” Teaches Kids About Black History: African Americans stood up for themselves with courage and self-respect in the face of racial discrimination to break color barriers and achieve their dreams. Breaking racial barriers in the 1900s throughout different industries took courage, persistence, and resilience. African American athletes endured systemic racism and unfair treatment, but they didn’t let these challenges affect their path to greatness in their calling.
Robinson stood firm through the negative remarks from teammates, coaches, and baseball fans to prove everyone wrong about how an African American shouldn’t be in professional baseball. He earned his titles with true grit, hard work, and a willingness to go against the grain in a segregated society.
I Am Willard Wigan From Xavier Riddle And The Secret Museum (Season 2, Episode 20a)
Yadina is having trouble finishing her friendship bracelets because she prefers a faster process. Brad and Xavier take her to the Secret Museum to see which hero can help her through her problem. They met Willard Wigan in 1962, who told Yadina that taking her time on a task can help her create her friendship bracelets with ease.
He shows the trio his mini sculptures on tiny nails, small-scale replicas of a house. Wigan also explains how even the slightest misstep of breathing too hard, applying too much paint, or pressing down on a sculpture at an odd angle can compromise his work. Yadina walks away with the lesson that careful and methodical work will benefit her friendship bracelet-making endeavors in the end.
What “I Am Willard Wigan” Teaches Kids About Black History: Wigan is an autistic Afro-British micro sculptor. His Asperger’s disease and dyslexia as a child were met with impatience from his school teachers. Willard started observing ants when he was 5 and was inspired to build tiny sculptures for nature’s smallest living things to inhabit. Utilizing tools he created to aid his micro sculptures, Wigan enhanced the world’s modern art to the point where many celebrities have purchased his work depicting popular culture, literature, sports, entertainment, and other themes.
Dancing In The Light: The Janet Collins Story (2015)
Janet Collins was the first African American ballet dancer to gain international recognition in the 1930s. This is one of the unique and colorful black history cartoons narrated by black comedian and actor, Chris Rock. The storyline highlights how she broke color barriers to reach the top of American ballet. However, when the Ballet Russe invites Collins to dance for her, they ask to paint her skin white so she looks like the other ballet professionals.
The 17-minute television short showcases how Collins handled this request and stood firm with her identity rather than changing who she was to gain acceptance.
What “Dancing In The Light: The Janet Collins Story” Teaches Kids About Black History: African Americans had to maintain integrity and self-respect while fighting for the same rights as Caucasians. Racism affected career opportunities for black individuals before the Civil Rights Movement, including positions in the art industry. Unfortunately, talent alone was sometimes not enough to succeed in a segregated America. While conformity seemed like the easier path, Black icons went to the beat of their own drums to make a name for themselves.
Hopefully your children can connect in some way to these black history cartoons while learning about many of the black icons who have helped shape America and the lives of millions of people.