What if Juneteenth isn't just about the end of slavery but about the difference between freedom declared and freedom delivered? My Black Friday History Post explores Juneteenth through the lens of America 250, North Carolina's "When Are We Us?" theme, and the long pursuit of America's promises.

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, I reflect on the Ohio River as a powerful symbol of freedom, hope, and the distance between America's promises and its realities. Just published on Substack: Black Friday History Post: The River Between Promise and Freedom. substack.com/home/post/p-...

Day 5 - #MusicSermon What I Told You to Forget by Tavares youtu.be/0L_rDbJ7Rgo

New Black Friday History Post: America 250 and the Story I Almost Missed: Finding Black Patriots at Guilford Courthouse The discovery of 43 Black Patriots at Guilford Courthouse is a reminder that Black history is woven into the nation's founding story. open.substack.com/pub/valencia...

Use your free teacher account on Retro Report's website to browse and save free, classroom-ready student activities. Learn about some of our most popular student activities this spring: https://retroreport.org/articles/best-of-spring-most-popular-student-activities-of-2026-so-far/

Check out this book on Goodreads: Until the Last Gun Is Silent: A Story of Patriotism, the Vietnam War, and the Fight to Save America's Soul www.goodreads.com/book/show/23... #TeacherSummer2026 #SummerRead #NHTOY #NCHTOY @gliamericanhistory.bsky.social

Looking for a children's book to pair with the National Spelling Bee in the news? Check out "How Do You Spell Unfair?: MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee" by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Frank Morrison. #TeachOutsideTextbook www.zinnedproject.org/materials/ho...

Yep. I’m a leftist. 1 of 2

A 4th grade teacher asked students to write letter to a changemaker on something important to them. A little boy sent his letter on tax credits for electric vehicles to Rep. Foxx (NC-R). She attacked him and his teacher in her response while citing misinformation. They need to vote her OUT.

When Elaine Weiss was working on her new book, "Spell Freedom," she thought she was writing history. But so many themes from this book are back in today's headlines.

Keep learning all summer! ☀️ Join a virtual ‘Teaching for Black Lives’ study group. Pre-K–12 educators will explore how to teach about racism, resistance, and joy. Participants receive the ‘Teaching for Black Lives’ book & a ‘Rethinking Schools’ magazine subscription. Learn more and sign up: ⬇️

Memorial Day release: Echoes of Black Veterans my newest Black Friday History Post is now live on Substack. open.substack.com/pub/valencia...

Memorial Day release: Echoes of Black Veterans my newest Black Friday History Post is now live on Substack. open.substack.com/pub/valencia...

#tdih 1796, Ona Judge carefully, strategically, and bravely freed herself from bondage by the most powerful family in the U.S., George & Martha Washington. Judge lived rest of life as fugitive. Check out young readers‘ version of excellent book by Professor Erica Armstrong Dunbar “Never Caught” ⬇️🧵

Current events, the Constitution, and critical thinking: How one educator brings civics into the classroom www.ednc.org/current-even...

Education Matters EP 273: Celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week 2026 youtu.be/j-LhWYdK2k8?...

Current events, the Constitution, and critical thinking: How one educator brings civics into the classroom www.ednc.org/current-even...

#tdih 1970 in Mississippi: Police opened fire on students (& passersby) at protest of U.S. invasion of Cambodia at Jackson State. Phillip L. Gibbs (21) & James E. Green (17) were killed. 💔Just 11 days after Kent State & two years after Orangeburg Massacre. 🧵 www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/ja...

Raising the Flag Follow my work and writing on Substack: nickanderson.substack.com

There is a statue of author Alex Haley in East Knoxville, TN. Knox County just removed Roots from all school libraries.

Education Matters EP 273: Celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week 2026 youtu.be/j-LhWYdK2k8?...

Episode 273: Celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week 2026 Guests: Chyna Delk-Bratcher, Kindergarten Teacher, Hoke County Schools Michael Vetter, Human Resources Director, Jackson County Public Schools Valencia Abbott, Social Studies Dept. Chair, Rockingham Early College High School

Thomas Jefferson argued tirelessly that Black people should be exiled from The United States while also fathering four children with his enslaved concubine Sally Hemings. Join us for a frank discussion of how race and racism shaped the founding of America. events.leapevents.com/tickets/anne...

Historian of abolition here, history tells us how we got here, to put it succinctly “John Brown was hanged for treason and Robert E. Lee was not.”

Yes, we agree & recommend all of @marcusrediker.bsky.social's work. "Southern elites' efforts to control the waterfront were not equal to the political will of the enslaved to be free." -- Marcus Rediker in class on "Freedom Ship." Listen to full recording ⬇️. www.zinnedproject.org/news/freedom...

WE ARE NOT DESCENDED FROM FEARFUL MEN

I first encountered Marcus Rediker through the book The Slave Ship: A Human History. It reshaped how I teach history: truths that unsettle, but must be faced. Grateful for ZEP for Freedom Ship: The Uncharted History of Escaping Slavery by Sea, continuing that work. @zinnedproject.bsky.social

My Mother’s Day message is now up on Substack: Black Friday History Post: A Mother’s Day Lineage of Black Women’s Learning #BHMhttps://open.substack.com/pub/valenciaabbott/p/black-friday-history-post-a-mothers?r=1lpoti&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

My latest Black Friday History Post is now up on Substack: When Black Women Enter the Control Room Interested in how history, memory, and Black futures intersect, it’s there now for reading. open.substack.com/pub/valencia...

Honored to be named a 2026 Teaching in Color Educator of the Year. My teaching and learning, Sankofa is a practice, not a metaphor, guiding my community to reach back as they move forward. Culturally relevant teaching is not supplemental; it is essential. The work continues. #TeachingInColor #CREED

Appreciation to EducationNC and journalist Carolina Parker for the reporting on RECHS student co-hosting a PBS News student podcast. This is the kind of work that deserves attention!!!

🎶 “The kid is mine…” 🎶 Rockingham County student co-hosting a PBS News student podcast. Local voice on a national platform. www.ednc.org/rockingham-c...

🎶 “The kid is mine…” 🎶 Rockingham County student co-hosting a PBS News student podcast. Local voice on a national platform. www.ednc.org/rockingham-c...

Yes, there is a math in history class! Especially you are covering the Affordable Health Act! #NHTOY #NCHTOY

Yes, there is a math in history class! Especially you are covering the Affordable Health Act! #NHTOY #NCHTOY

How collard greens became a symbol of resilience and tradition:

"Black women comprise 14% of the US population, but account for about 30% of homicides resulting from partner violence." I will never forget how my publication on sexual violence got rejected from a journal because a reviewer believed race (which I emphasized) was not a relevant factor.

I do not want to create an account or open a subscription I just want to buy a thing and never hear from you again why is this so hard.

#tdih 1787, Richard Allen and Absalom Jones founded the Free African Society in Philadelphia, a multi-denomination mutual aid org for freed people. Provided core services (education, health, jobs, burial) denied to Black people by U.S. & local gov't. Read ⬇️ www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/fr...

Applications are open for ONE MORE WEEK: We are hiring college students and college-aged individuals for Summer 2026 Freedom Schools Literacy Academy roles in Philadelphia and online. Apply today by April 17th: https://thecenterblacked.org/fsla-home/college-aged-individuals/ #WeNeedBlackTeachers

Creative. 🌹

Honored to br among this wonderful cohort of North Carolina educators! Thank you @National History Day! #AlwaysLearning #LearningHappensHere ##NCHTOY #America250NC

Super excited to conduct my solo workshop for a group of middle and high school Social Studies teachers in South Carolina! Such a perk of being NHTOY! Thank you again GLI!!! @gliamericanhistory.bsky.social

First time at the National Council for History Education Conference. Grateful for the conversations, the community, and the chance to learn alongside folks who care deeply about this work. Honored to receive the 2026 Paul A. Gagnon Prize. Still taking it all in! @historyed.bsky.social #NCHE2026

Really can't remember when I became a member of the ICivics Educator Network, but so glad that I did!! It has been an adventure for me and so many advantages for or to my students! #CivicTeacher #NHTOY #NCHTOY @icivics.bsky.social

What happens at RECHS History Club doesn’t stay at RECHS. Honored to be featured in a newly published EdNC article highlighting North Carolina at SXSW EDU 2026 affirming that the work students are doing is reaching far beyond our campus. www.ednc.org/north-caroli... #RECHSHistoryClub #NHTOY

Segregation-era Beach Resorts to be Featured on N.C. Highway Historical Marker www.dncr.nc.gov/news/press-r... #NCHE2026

It is not poolside like in Austin, but still a lovely spot if I have to do work! If you are at the NCHE conference, my session is at 2 pm in Riverview 2. ##NCHE2026 #NHTOY #SSChat #ITeachSocialStudies

Still get a high when I see this flyer! Please nominate that deserving history teacher for this amazing experience! @gliamericanhistory.bsky.social #NHTOY ##NCHTOY #HistoryNerdsUnite