BLACFACS (www.blacfacs.com) is an interactive online platform of over 1000 facts and nearly 50 quizzes that celebrate the axiom, "Black History is American History," and it just might be the largest Black history database on the planet. BLACFACS captures the historical essence of Black lives in America as it facilitates teaching and learning our remarkable history. As well, BLACFACS honors the memory of Dr. Alma Rene Williams (1947-2000), a noted historian and professor at Clark Atlanta University and furthers her legacy of teaching, learning and celebrating African American history throughout the year, for 365 days. (see “About Us'' on the site.) These aims are especially important in the present bogus anti-Critical Race Theory era that threatens to wipe Black History out of all curricula. We must resist, and BLACFACS is one form of resistance.

 

At this point, BLACFACS has achieved much:

• The BLACFACS online web platform has been developed.

• Over 1,000 questions, answers and explanations have been created and posted in more than 40 categories.

• The first annual FREE Black History Month Competition (hosted by Quizziz) officially launched the site in February 2022,

• Over 40 enthusiastic users registered and participated in five weekly rounds of the competition.

• Monetary prizes were awarded to four semi-finalists ($50.00 each) and to 1st place ($100.00), 2nd place ($50.00), 3rd place ($25.00) finalists.

• Educationally, we have aligned our quizzes with best practices regarding educational approaches of teaching the whole student and aligned with local, state and national standards.

 

Since its conception in 2000, Dr. Janice Liddell, founder, has funded the entire operation of BLACFACS, i.e. site development, quiz development, cash prizes, etc. However, for the platform to expand and flourish, we must find new external funding; no single person can carry this growth and expansion. Thus, we are asking all individuals to assist us in this growth who believe

• Black history is important and relevant;

• Black history is, indeed, American history and

• Black History should be easily accessible 24/7/365 to all who desire to learn this rich history.

 

Specifically, we now seek funds for the full implementation of BLACFACS to:

1. Host our own operation by developing hosting technology to support various types of interactions from individual to groups to classes and at various interactive levels, i.e. for in-class learning, game nights, online parties, etc. (Presently we are hosted by Quizziz);

2. Offer compensation to individuals who develop new categories of quizzes—we want to continue to grow the database;

3. Hire two student interns;

4. Commission games to be created appropriate to Black History and BLACFACS;

5. Build interactive student-centered activities that can be included in daily curricula and effectively evaluated by instructors;

6. Host and support the annual BLACFACS Black History Month and Juneteenth Competitions and also to incentivize player participation in BLACFACS contests with cash prizes (such as an annual essay/ fiction/poetry writing contest for youth and much more)—all focused on Black History;

7. Enhance our marketing strategies through social media to include website Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Google Adwords, paid advertisement, and a social media marketing professional;

8. Sustain and grow the existing scholarship program for students at Clark Atlanta University in the name of Dr. Alma R. Williams and provide opportunities for the BLACFACS community to win competitive, need-based scholarships.

 

We invite you to visit the site (www.blacfacs.com) and see for yourself the full platform in operation and better appreciate the growth potential ahead for this interactive innovation.

 

Please contribute and help BLACFACS achieve its highest potential. No amount is too small. Feel free to share the link with all who appreciate Black history!!

 

*Congratulations to our 1st annual grand prize BLACFACS competition winners:

Championship Final

1st Place $100.00 winner: Beverly Liddell-Smith; Toledo, OH

2nd Place $50.00 winner: Irma Watkins-Owens; NYC

3rd Place $25.00 winner: Kenneth Abrams; Baltimore, MD

 

To see our most recent quarterly (March) newsletter, go to https://app.mlsend2.com/z8g6s5w9n5/ .