Teaching About Africa

An excellent reading for teachers and/or parents to discuss is I Didn't Know There Were Cities in Africa! from Teaching Tolerance's Fall 2008 issue. Submitted by Teaching for Change, this article critiques the stereotypes in popular children's books and films, helps educators reflect on their own classroom, and provides a list of recommended titles.


Resources and strategies for challenging stereotypes and teaching about African countries.

  • Africa Access:  Literature recommendations, student research projects, and a detailed database with critiques of hundreds of children's books and texts on Africa. Coordinates the annual Children’s Africana Book Award.
  • African Studies K-12 Outreach Programs: University based programs which provide resources and professional development for teachers.
  • H-AfrTeach: A discussion list which provides a forum on teaching about Africa at all educational levels.
  • Masifunde Sonke Book Project: An education initiative of South Africa Partners promotes children’s literature from the new South Africa. For each book purchased in the United States, South Africa Partners donates a second copy of the same book to a rural or township school in South Africa. 
  • TransAfrica Forum: Up to date news and opportunities for action regarding US policy towards the countries of Africa.
  • What Do We Want Children to Learn About Africa?: This short article by Margy Burns Knight shares disturbing examples of how contemporary resources for children, including a National Geographic classroom poster, exotify Africans. The article includes the outline for a professional development activity.