It’s time to celebrate Black History Month! In February, we make time to celebrate, remember, and honor all the ways African-Americans contributed to our country. As classroom teachers touch on important figures in the history, I like to take time to talk about the contributions African-American musicians have made to inspire the music we listen to today. But where to begin? For my celebration of Black History Month, I always start with Stevie Wonder. Why? Well, I teach in Michigan and he’s from Michigan! That always sparks an interest and curiosity from my students. They see him as “one of us.” But, there are so many things to take away from learning about Stevie Wonder.
Relevance
Stevie Wonder is a current artist. He’s still writing, producing, and performing music. Many of my student’s grandparents and parents know and listen to his early music like Superstition and Isn’t She Lovely. My current students have connections to his music through movies like Sing.
Social Justice
Stevie has always found a way to speak and act on things that were wrong in our world through his music and influence. His song, Happy Birthday, was written in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and was later used in a campaign to create the first national holiday to honor the civil rights hero.
History
My favorite Stevie Wonder song to use to introduce him to students is Sir Duke. It was written in 1976 to honor Duke Ellington, and the many other black musicians that inspired and paved the way for Stevie. In the song, he references Count Basie, Glenn Miller, Louis Armstrong (Satchmo), and Ella Fitzgerald. The song is the perfect springboard to share these musicians and their music with my students.
Influence
Stevie Wonder’s musical influence reaches multiple genres. From soul and R&B, to hip-hop and modern rock, you would hard put to find a musician who has been inspired by Stevie’s music. Without Stevie Wonder, would we have had a Michael Jackson, Prince, Snoop Dogg, Beyond, or John Legend? This provides another opportunity for me to share other current musicians and their music with students.
Music Industry
In addition to learn about Stevie Wonder’s music, we also learn about his connection to Motown Records. Stevie was signed to Motown in 1961, at the age of 11. Motown Records is located in Detroit, Michigan and was the location where so many amazing musicians such as Marvin Gaye, The Jackson Five, and Diana Ross got their start!
Adversity
It’s impossible to talk about Stevie Wonder without talking about the fact that Stevie lost his sight at birth. The message I share with students is that although tragic, it didn’t limit Stevie in pursuing his passions and becoming a successful musician. We all have struggles that are challenging to bear, but they don’t have to define us.
How do you celebrate Black History Month in your classroom? I’d love to hear your ideas! Please leave a comment and share your thoughts!
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