Among the legends and legacies celebrated during Black History Month is the story of Alexandria’s Earl Lloyd who broke the color barrier in 1950 as the first African American to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) Office of Equity and Alternative Programs has compiled a variety of resources to help educators provide instruction on Lloyd.
All ACPS libraries offer the texts “Earl Lloyd: The First to Do It and Moonfixer” and “The Basketball Journey of Earl Lloyd.” Copies of Earl Lloyd lesson plans are available for various grade levels. Video resources also can be accessed on YouTube.
“These resources help bring to light in the classroom the importance of African Americans like Lloyd who made a difference by breaking barriers and taking a step forward toward achieving equity,” said ACPS Cultural Competency Coordinator Cheryl Robinson. “Black History Month may start the conversation, but the many and varied accomplishments of African Americans must be recognized throughout the year, as this is American history.”