Black students need opportunities to see themselves in a positive light.

That was the premise behind former kindergarten teacher Marvin Dutton’s 2016 invention of the Black History ABC flashcards, reports Christie Ileto for 6abc.

Dutton created the cards after 10 years of running kindergarten classrooms at several charter schools in the Philadelphia area.

“Being a kindergarten teacher, I was a big component of using flashcards, not just for sight words but also for just memory. Flash cards are a great visual aid for students.”

But he wanted the cards for Black students to do more.

“What inspired me to create ABC flashcards is that I wanted to have a way where students could positively or systematically learn about figures in history,” he said.

Each letter on a flashcard also corresponds to a famous person of Color who made a contribution to America. A drawing and the name of that person is on the card.

“It’s very important that African American children see themselves not just in their teachers but also in their histories. You’ve got to know where you’ve been to know where you’re going.”

He plans to update the cards to reflect current figures.

Find out more about Marvin Dutton and his Black History ABC flashcards at 6abc.