Sankofa Club
Finding an enriching and comprehensive Black History program can be a daunting task for many parents, especially those dedicated to providing a nuanced and thorough understanding of cultural history to their children. Drawing on my extensive background as an educator across diverse educational settings and my experience teaching over 18 subjects including history, I embarked on an in-depth exploration of Black History programs, where Sankofa Club stood out for its unique and engaging approach. Created by Freddie Taylor, CEO of Urban Intellectuals, in response to the misrepresentation of Black history in schools, Sankofa Club aims to fill this gap with a vast array of live classes, digital resources, and community forums, earning recognition for its impactful curriculum.
What I love about Sankofa Club is its commitment to making Black History accessible and engaging through interactive classes and a supportive community atmosphere, ensuring that learning is both fun and informative. This program is ideally suited for families looking to deepen their children's understanding of Black History beyond the conventional school curriculum, providing a more comprehensive and celebratory perspective. While the digital-only format may not cater to those who prefer physical learning materials, this does not detract from the overall quality and effectiveness of the program. For parents looking to maximize their Sankofa Club experience, I recommend scheduling regular, short learning sessions with your children, which can help maintain engagement and reinforce the rich lessons provided by the club.
Grades: Advertised as ages 2-99, but probably best suited to Pre-K to Grade 6.
Cost: $75/month
The in-depth review
Understanding Black history is essential not only for cultural appreciation and personal identity but also for fostering a well-rounded historical perspective. A quality Black history curriculum should be engaging, comprehensive, and appropriate for various age groups, offering insights into the significant contributions and challenges of Black individuals throughout history.
About Sankofa Club
Sankofa Club was founded by Freddie Taylor, CEO of Urban Intellectuals, driven by the need to address the gaps in Black history education that his children encountered in school. The club provides a virtual platform with live classes, worksheets, and activities designed to make learning Black history engaging and accessible. It's notable for its community-oriented approach and emphasis on positive Black narratives.
Why I recommend Sankofa Club for Black History
Sankofa Club is an invaluable resource for its thorough and inspiring coverage of Black history. Its structured yet flexible educational materials cater to different learning stages, making it ideal for homeschooling contexts. The club's live classes and interactive content ensure active learning and help instill a deep appreciation of Black heritage.
Who Sankofa Club is for
Sankofa Club is suitable for children and adults alike, aiming to educate anyone from ages 2 to 99. It's particularly beneficial for families seeking to incorporate comprehensive Black history education into their homeschooling curriculum.
How Sankofa Club works
Sankofa Club operates through a well-structured, engaging approach to learning Black History online. Members have the opportunity to attend bi-weekly live classes led by experienced Black educators, covering a diverse range of topics and allowing for real-time interaction with teachers. In addition to these classes, the club hosts monthly community townhall meetings, guided by a seasoned Black counselor, to enhance community ties and facilitate deep discussions.
The membership also includes unlimited access to an extensive archive of past classes, continuously updated and serving as a valuable resource for those who wish to explore topics at their own pace. For hands-on learning, Sankofa Club offers a comprehensive array of printable worksheets and activities, catering to various learning styles and enhancing the educational experience.
To further engage young minds, the club provides interactive games and puzzles, which are both fun and educational, designed to reinforce historical knowledge through interactive play. Moreover, members become part of a supportive online community, connecting parents, children, educators, and advocates passionate about promoting and understanding Black history and culture.
Members receive digital activity boxes tailored to various age groups, making it easy to integrate into daily learning routines. The club encourages short, consistent learning sessions to maintain engagement without overwhelming young learners. Live sessions and community interactions further enrich the educational experience.
What Sankofa Club covers
Historical Black Figures: Detailed explorations of influential Black leaders, activists, artists, scientists, and other significant figures.
Major Events in Black History: Coverage of key events that have shaped the history of Black people, such as the Civil Rights Movement, abolition of slavery, and significant historical milestones.
Cultural Contributions: Studies on contributions by Black individuals and communities to arts, music, literature, science, and technology.
African Civilizations Before Colonization: Insights into the rich histories of African civilizations before European interference, emphasizing the sophistication and diversity of these societies.
Modern Black History: Discussions on more recent historical developments, challenges, and achievements within Black communities globally.
Social Justice Issues: Education on ongoing social justice movements, including Black Lives Matter, discussing the roots and impacts of systemic racism.
African-American Innovations: Highlighting innovations and inventions by African-Americans that have contributed to global progress.
African Diaspora: Exploration of the spread of African peoples across the world and how they have influenced the global cultural landscape.
What’s included in membership
Bi-Weekly Live Classes: Each week, members can attend two live Black History classes conducted online by experienced Black educators. These classes cover a variety of topics and provide real-time interaction with teachers.
Community Townhalls: Once a month, the club organizes a townhall meeting led by a seasoned Black counselor with extensive experience. These meetings are designed to foster a sense of community and provide a space for meaningful discussions.
Extensive Class Archive: As a member, you gain unlimited access to a rich vault of past Black history classes. This archive grows continuously and offers a treasure trove of learning materials.
Comprehensive Printable Resources: The membership includes access to a vast library of printable worksheets and activities. These resources cater to different learning styles and are a great tool for hands-on engagement.
Interactive Games and Puzzles: To make learning more enjoyable for children, the club provides a variety of online games and puzzles. These are not only fun but also educational, helping to solidify historical knowledge in an interactive format.
Supportive Online Community: Joining Sankofa Club means becoming part of an active and supportive community. This network includes parents, children, educators, and others who are passionate about Black history and cultural education.
Updates and Additions
Sankofa Club continually updates its curriculum and platform, adding new worksheets, games, and live sessions to keep the content fresh and relevant. These updates are designed to reflect current historical research and community feedback.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Sankofa Club
What Parents Like about Sankofa Club
Comprehensive Coverage: Offers a wide-ranging curriculum that includes live Black history classes, worksheets, and interactive activities tailored to various age groups.
Engaging Educational Methods: Utilizes a mix of live teaching sessions, digital worksheets, and community forums to provide an interactive and engaging learning experience.
Diverse Learning Materials: Caters to different learning styles and age groups with activities designed to be fun and educational, like coloring sheets, mazes, and video lessons.
Strong Community Support: Provides a supportive community environment through private groups and live town halls, fostering a sense of belonging and mutual learning.
Accessibility: All materials are digital, ensuring easy and immediate access without the need for travel or physical purchases.
Expert Instructors: Led by educators and leaders with extensive experience and passion for teaching Black history and culture.
Regular Updates: Frequently updated content keeps the curriculum current and relevant, continuously adding new materials and features based on member feedback.
Positive Cultural Impact: Promotes a positive understanding and appreciation of Black contributions to history, enhancing cultural pride and identity.
What parents dislike
Limited Physical Interaction: Being entirely digital, it might not suit learners who benefit from in-person interactions or physical materials.
Specific Focus: Primarily focuses on Black history, which might not be as appealing for those looking for a more generalized history curriculum.
Cost: The subscription fee, while reasonable for the content provided, may be a barrier for some families considering the monthly financial commitment.
Time Commitment: Requires regular participation to get the most benefit, which might be challenging for extremely busy families or those with limited daily schedules.
Tech Requirements: Members need a reliable internet connection and appropriate devices to access digital content, which could be a limitation for some users.
Tips from Parents on how to get the most out of Sankofa
Parents recommend scheduling regular, brief educational sessions and participating actively in the community forums and live events to maximize the benefits of membership. Engaging with the materials alongside your children can also enhance understanding and enjoyment for the whole family.
Select Reviews from Parents and Teachers
"It is my responsibility as a Black Woman to EDUCATE… My People, The People… All People!"
"My children enjoy doing these worksheets, you got something for all ages."
"I love all the flashcards, our history is so rich and the information needs to get out to everyone especially in today’s time."
"Teaching in schools that serve students from impoverished urban neighborhoods has given me a unique set of understandings, skills, and qualifications as it relates to facilitating and supporting those struggling students as they attempt to circumvent all of the pitfalls of learning when growing up in poverty."
Why Trust Me
With over 20 years of teaching experience across various international contexts, including conflict zones and diverse educational systems, I bring a wealth of knowledge in educational methodologies. My background in American Studies and involvement in cross-cultural dialogues enhances my capability to evaluate and recommend resources like Sankofa Club effectively.
How I vetted
I extensively reviewed user feedback online, including comments from both parents and educational professionals. I also consulted with historians and educators who specialize in Black history, ensuring a thorough understanding of the club's offerings and their educational value.
What I Looked For and How Sankofa Stacks Up
Sankofa Club meets and exceeds many of the criteria you might look for in an educational resource focused on Black history. Its strengths in providing a comprehensive, accurate, and engaging curriculum make it a standout choice for those seeking to educate their children or themselves about the rich and diverse history of Black individuals and communities.
Comprehensive: Sankofa Club provides a wide-ranging curriculum that includes various activities, worksheets, and live classes, covering an extensive range of topics from ancient African civilizations to modern Black history and social justice issues. This ensures a thorough exploration of Black history, fulfilling the comprehensive criterion effectively.
Secular: The club maintains a secular approach, focusing on historical and cultural education without incorporating religious content. This makes it suitable for a diverse audience with different religious backgrounds.
Accurate: The material in Sankofa Club is curated and taught by experienced educators and historians. The content focuses on factual and significant historical narratives, addressing the accuracy of Black history and correcting often misrepresented or omitted facts in mainstream education.
Decolonized: One of the core strengths of Sankofa Club is its commitment to presenting a decolonized view of history, which emphasizes the contributions and civilizations of Black people before and beyond colonial impacts. This perspective helps to reframe historical narratives typically centered around Western viewpoints.
Inclusive: The curriculum is designed to be inclusive, catering to children and adults from various backgrounds. It not only serves Black families but also welcomes non-Black individuals who seek to understand and appreciate Black history.
Anti-Racist: Sankofa Club actively promotes anti-racist education. It equips learners with knowledge and discussions that challenge systemic racism and empower students with a positive identity, fostering a broader societal understanding and respect for Black contributions.
Mastery-Based: The program supports mastery-based learning, where students can engage with content at their own pace, ensuring they understand each topic thoroughly before moving on. This is facilitated through repeatable worksheets and interactive sessions that reinforce learning.
Aligned with School Standards for Black History: While Sankofa Club provides an extensive Black history curriculum, it might not align directly with specific school standards in every region due to its broader and more global approach. However, it serves as a valuable supplementary resource that enhances and fills gaps in traditional school curricula.
Fun and Engaging for Kids: The Club excels in making learning fun and engaging. It incorporates games, puzzles, and interactive videos, which are highly appealing to children. This approach helps sustain their interest in learning and makes the educational process enjoyable.
Who is Sankofa Club an ideal fit for?
Sankofa Club is tailored to Black families, but anyone can participate. perfect for homeschooling families who prioritize a deep, nuanced understanding of Black history. It's also well-suited for educators seeking resources to support diverse learning environments.
Who is Sankofa not a fit for?
Families looking for a more generalized or non-interactive historical curriculum may find the specific focus and interactive nature of Sankofa Club less suitable.
Alternatives and supplements to Sankofa Club
Learners Needing a More General History Curriculum:
Alternative: Curiosity Chronicles
Why: Curiosity Chronicles offers a broad sweep of world history that is secular and inclusive, presenting history through engaging dialogues between two characters from different time periods. This approach provides a comprehensive overview that incorporates various cultures and events, ideal for students who need context beyond a focused study like Black history.
Learners Preferring Traditional Textbook Formats:
Alternative: A Young Person’s History of the United States
Why: For students who prefer a more traditional academic approach, this book provides a detailed narrative of American history from a perspective that often challenges mainstream texts, offering deep insights into social justice issues.
Learners Looking for Deeply Critical Perspectives on History:
Alternative: Zinn Education Project
Why: This project provides a range of teaching materials that emphasize social and economic justice. It's ideal for learners who thrive on critical thinking and understanding the roots of inequality, offering lessons that provoke deep thought about societal structures.
Learners Who Are Highly Book-Oriented and Enjoy In-Depth Reading:
Alternative: Revisioning History for Young People Series
Why: This series adapts scholarly works on significant historical topics into formats accessible for younger readers, making it perfect for book-loving students who enjoy diving deep into complex subjects through comprehensive, engaging narratives.
Learners Seeking a Curriculum that Focuses on a Wide Range of Social Justice Topics:
Alternative: Woke Homeschooling
Why: Woke Homeschooling provides a curriculum that is fully secular and broad, covering a variety of social justice issues and historical perspectives. This curriculum is suitable for families who value a holistic approach to education that includes discussions on race, equity, and history from multiple perspectives.
Value for the Money
Considering the depth of content, the expertise of the instructors, and the interactive components, Sankofa Club offers significant value for the subscription price. It is a worthwhile investment in a child’s comprehensive education about Black history.
Highlights
In addition to its robust online educational offerings, Sankofa Club extends unique learning opportunities through special programs like the Black Math Genius program. This innovative initiative introduces students to advanced mathematical concepts while emphasizing the rich mathematical heritage of Africa, highlighting significant contributions by Black mathematicians. Additionally, Sankofa Club organizes educational trips that provide immersive experiences, allowing students and families to explore historical sites and cultural landmarks. These trips are designed to bring history to life, offering hands-on learning experiences that enrich the participants' understanding of Black history and its global impact.
Ways to Get Sankofa Club
Sankofa Club can be accessed through their website, where various subscription options are available. Interested parties can sign up for monthly access or explore specific educational materials suited to their needs.
Affilate Disclaimer
This review is based on my comprehensive analysis and genuine belief in the educational value of the Sankofa Club. I may earn a commission from purchases made through links in this review, but this does not influence my recommendations.
Sources and Further Exploration
Sankofa Kids Black History Activities: Black Wall Street Month 6 (SC Monthly Green)
Sankofa Kids Black History Activities: Great Minds Month 1 (SC Monthly Green)
Sankofa Kids Club – All Access Subscription Monthly – Urban Intellectuals Store
More History Resources to Explore
Discover IllumiNative, a groundbreaking Social Studies curriculum that brings Native American histories and cultures to the forefront. Ideal for K-12 education, this program uses authentic narratives to enhance understanding and respect for Native perspectives. Access to most resources is free, making it accessible for all educational settings.