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TikTok Teaching

THE TIMES WEEKLY — Recent videos, for example, explore the meaning and location of “sundown towns” in Illinois–towns where Black people were allowed in during daylight hours to work or for other business, but had to be gone by sundown or risk being arrested or even lynched. Sundown towns, like segregation, were not restricted to southern states but were common in the northern states as well and were often targets of the Civil Rights Movement.
The post TikTok Teaching first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 years ago

May 17, 2023

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By Kay Bolden | The Times Weekly

While the national push is on to recruit, train and support a new generation of Black teachers, the achievement gap between white and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) students continues to grow. In response, some nonprofits are bringing education directly into community spaces, and inspiring Black students to succeed.

“Black history saved my life” is not just the title of Ernest Crim’s first book; it’s his philosophy of education, and the foundation of his mission to reach and teach Black youth their true history.

“It’s long past time for us to start taking control of educating our children at home first, so if they are in one of these schools where books are being banned, or Black history is being ignored or completely erased, they already have a strong base of knowledge,” Crim says. “They’ll be more aware, and more prone to push back against disinformation, rather than accepting whatever they are told.”

With 12 years’ experience teaching history at the high school level, including time at Joliet Central, Crim has left the classroom to take Black history to a much bigger audience; his 370,000 TikTok followers are treated to regular lessons on past and present issues affecting Black people across the country, and around the world.

Recent videos, for example, explore the meaning and location of “sundown towns” in Illinois–towns where Black people were allowed in during daylight hours to work or for other business, but had to be gone by sundown or risk being arrested or even lynched. Sundown towns, like segregation, were not restricted to southern states but were common in the northern states as well and were often targets of the Civil Rights Movement.

When Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke at North Central College in the 1960s, for example, he was not welcome in Naperville hotels; he spent the night in nearby Aurora. And as recently as October 2022, White Lives Matter flyers were distributed around Morris, Illinois.

Crim sees connections between those past oppressive laws, and today’s current efforts to eliminate books and forbid classes that explore the role racism has played in American society. “Part of the Great Replacement Theory rhetoric,” Crim points out, “Is this idea that Black and Brown people are taking over, whatever that means, and that we have to be stopped. How? By denying our contributions to America, and by erasing our history.”

Sometimes that so-called fear of being replaced can lead to violence. The Southern Poverty Law Center describes the theory as “a racist conspiracy narrative falsely asserting that there is an active, ongoing and covert effort to replace white populations in current white-majority countries.” The mass shooters in Buffalo, NY (2022), Pittsburgh, PA (2018), all El Paso, TX (2019) all cited or posted about the “Great Replacement”.

Crim can’t help but feel that the belief in white supremacy is a dying ideology. “If you look at history, you see that right before an ideology dies, it becomes more virulent. That’s what we’re seeing now. The library closings, the canceling of Black history courses, the demonizing of diversity and inclusion training–in the end, this will prove to be ineffective and pointless,” he says. “This generation lives online. They have unprecedented access to more information than ever before. They will learn the truth, and they can’t be stopped.”

Black parents have to be proactive about making sure their children are learning the truth. The achievement gap between white children and children of color is well-documented. Crim’s second book, The ABCs of Affirming Black Children, highlights 26 Black artists, activists, scientists, and speakers who dared to be great in the face of injustice and adversity. Beautifully illustrated by Janine Carrington, the book seeks to correct the often-negative images Black children receive from the media and society at large, and to build a foundation of confidence and vision that will prepare them for greatness.

“While it’s written and illustrated to be child-friendly, it’s not just for children,” Crim says. “It’s a book for the whole family to read again and again. It’s a way to share the love of reading, while celebrating our rich history and affirming our own excellence.”

Crim admits it was a real challenge to write with a children’s audience in mind. He is now actively fundraising to help lower income schools acquire his book and others, and to support speaking engagements.

With summer vacation from school looming, Crim says the summer months are a good time for parents to reconnect their kids with their history, and to keep their bodies and minds active.

“The racial achievement gap spreads during the summer months,” he says. “But the summer months can be our most productive.” He encourages parents to seek out summer camps or other activities that support physical activities and academic learning.

“Not every parent has the luxury of being off in the summer with their kids,” he continues. “But everyone can give themselves an hour a day of reading together, or doing fun science projects with household items, or just playing math games. Keep those brains active!”

In the final analysis, he says, the education of Black children should not be based solely on what the school system provides, but on the strength of our history and on our aspirations for the future.

“America is only 200 years old,” Crim says. “I firmly believe we will get through this period of book banning and other forms of racial oppression. I am optimistic that the law of nature and the law of the universe will eventually bring justice.”

Crim’s books are available on Amazon.com and on his website, https://www.ernestcrim.com, or follow him on TikTok.

This is the fourth segment of a four-part series called Taking it to the Streets: Reaching Black Students Where They Live, exclusive to the Times Weekly. Contact Kay Bolden, Times Weekly features writer at Kayb@thetimesweekly.com

The post TikTok Teaching first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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LIHEAP Funds Released After Weeks of Delay as States and the District Rush to Protect Households from the Cold

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — The federal government has released $3.6 billion in home heating assistance after a delay that left states preparing for the start of winter without the program’s annual funding.

Published

5 days ago

December 1, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The federal government has released $3.6 billion in home heating assistance after a delay that left states preparing for the start of winter without the program’s annual funding. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, known as LIHEAP, helps eligible households pay heating and cooling bills. The release follows a shutdown that stretched 43 days and pushed agencies across the country to warn families of possible disruptions.

State officials in Minnesota, Kansas, New York, and Pennsylvania had already issued alerts that the delay could slow the processing of applications or force families to wait until December for help. In Pennsylvania, more than 300,000 households depend on the program each year. Minnesota officials noted that older adults, young children, and people with disabilities face the highest risk as temperatures fall.

The delay also raised concerns among advocates who track household debt tied to rising utility costs. National Energy Assistance Directors Association Executive Director Mark Wolfe said the funds were “essential and long overdue” and added that high arrearages and increased energy prices have strained families seeking help.

Some states faced additional pressure when other services were affected by the shutdown. According to data reviewed by national energy advocates, roughly 68 percent of LIHEAP households also receive nutrition assistance, and the freeze in multiple programs increased the financial burden on low-income residents. Wolfe said families were placed in “an even more precarious situation than usual” as the shutdown stretched into November.

In Maryland, lawmakers urged the Trump administration to release funds after the state recorded its first cold-related death of the season. The Maryland Department of Health reported that a man in his 30s was found outdoors in Frederick County when temperatures dropped. Last winter, the state documented 75 cold-related deaths, the highest number in five years. Rep Kweisi Mfume joined more than 100 House members calling for immediate federal action and said LIHEAP “is not a luxury” for the 100,000 Maryland households that rely on it. He added that seniors and veterans would be placed at risk if the program remained stalled.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore used $10.1 million in state funds to keep benefits moving, but noted that states cannot routinely replace federal dollars. His administration said families that rely on medical equipment requiring electricity are particularly vulnerable.

The District of Columbia has already mapped out its FY26 LIHEAP structure in documents filed with the federal government. The District’s plan shows that heating assistance, cooling assistance, weatherization, and year-round crisis assistance operate from October 1 through September 30. The District allocates 50 percent of its LIHEAP funds to heating assistance, 10 percent to cooling, 13 percent to year-round crisis assistance, 15 percent to weatherization, and 10 percent to administrative costs. Two percent is used for services that help residents reduce energy needs, including education on reading utility bills and identifying energy waste.

The District’s plan lists a minimum LIHEAP benefit of $200 and a maximum of $1,800 for both heating and cooling assistance. Crisis benefits are provided separately and may reach up to $500 when needed to resolve an emergency. The plan states that a household is considered in crisis if it has been disconnected from energy service, if heating oil is at 5 percent or less of capacity, or if the household has at least $200 owed after the regular benefit is applied.

The District’s filing notes that LIHEAP staff conduct outreach through community meetings, senior housing sites, Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, social media, posters, and mass mailings. The plan confirms that LIHEAP applicants can apply in person, by mail, by email, or through a mobile-friendly online application and that physically disabled residents may request in-home visits.

As agencies nationwide begin distributing the newly released funds, states continue working through large volumes of applications. Wolfe said LIHEAP administrators “have been notified that the award letters have gone out and the states can begin to draw down the funds.”

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Seven Steps to Help Your Child Build Meaningful Connections

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Swinging side by side with a friend on the playground. Sharing chalk over bright, colorful sidewalk drawings. Hiding behind a tree during a spirited game of hide-and-seek. These simple moments between children may seem small, but they matter more than we think

Published

5 days ago

December 1, 2025

Oakland Post

By Niyoka McCoy, Ed.D., Chief Learning Officer, Stride/K12

Swinging side by side with a friend on the playground. Sharing chalk over bright, colorful sidewalk drawings. Hiding behind a tree during a spirited game of hide-and-seek. These simple moments between children may seem small, but they matter more than we think: They lay the foundation for some of life’s most important skills.

Through everyday play, young children begin learning essential social and emotional skills like sharing, resolving conflicts, showing empathy, and managing their emotions. These social skills help shape emotional growth and set kids up for long-term success. Socialization in early childhood isn’t just a “nice-to-have”—it’s essential for development.

Yet today, many young children who haven’t yet started school aren’t getting enough consistent, meaningful interaction with peers. Research shows that there’s a decline in active free play and peer socialization when compared to previous generations.

There are many reasons for this. Children who are home with a parent during the day may spend most of their time with adults, limiting opportunities for peer play. Those in daycare or preschool may have restricted free play, and large classrooms can reduce supervision and social coaching. Some children live in rural areas, are homebound due to illness, have full schedules, or rely on screens to fill their playtime. And for some families, finding other families with young children to connect with isn’t easy.

While these challenges can feel significant, opportunities for connection still exist in every community. Families can take simple steps to help children build friendships, create a sense of belonging, and strengthen social skills. Here are some ideas to get started:

Storytime sessions at libraries or local bookstores
Community offerings such as parent-child workshops, art, music, gymnastics, swimming, or sports programs
Weekly events at children’s museums, which may include art projects, music workshops, or science experiments
Outdoor exploration, where kids can play with peers
Local parenting groups that organize playdates and group activities
Volunteer opportunities where children can participate, such as pet adoption events or packing meals at a food bank
Classes for kids at local businesses, including hardware, grocery, or craft stores

Some of these community activities are free or low-cost and give kids the chance to build friendships and practice social skills. Parents can also model positive social behavior by interacting with other parents and encouraging their children to play with their peers.

These may seem like small moments of connection, but they can have a powerful impact. Every time your child shares a toy, plays make-believe with peers, or races a friend down the slide, they’re not just playing—they’re learning the skills that build confidence, empathy, and lasting friendships. And it’s good for you, too. Creating intentional opportunities for play also helps you strengthen your own network of parents who can support one another as your children grow together.

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Seven Steps to Help Your Child Build Meaningful Connections

Published

5 days ago

December 1, 2025

Oakland Post

By Niyoka McCoy, Ed.D., Chief Learning Officer, Stride/K12

Storytime sessions at libraries or local bookstores
Community offerings such as parent-child workshops, art, music, gymnastics, swimming, or sports programs
Weekly events at children’s museums, which may include art projects, music workshops, or science experiments
Outdoor exploration, where kids can play with peers
Local parenting groups that organize playdates and group activities
Volunteer opportunities where children can participate, such as pet adoption events or packing meals at a food bank
Classes for kids at local businesses, including hardware, grocery, or craft stores