BH365 and JYE Bring Black History Into a Time-Traveling Comic

When history feels vivid, personal, and connected to the present, young people may be more inclined to ask questions and keep learning. That is the promise behind a newly announced national collaboration between Black History 365 Education (BH365) and Joe Young Entertainment (JYE). According to the organizations, their partnership brings a character-led comic collection into conversation with K–12 ethnic studies resources, offering educators and families another way to explore Black History with young readers.

BH365 and JYE announced the collaboration on September 3, 2026, at BH365’s Arlington, Texas, office. The organizations say the centerpiece is Kemet: The Time Traveler, a collected book that brings together Kemet comic books and comic strips created by cartoonist and producer Joe Young. The announcement is worth celebrating not simply because it introduces a new title, but because it recognizes a practical truth about learning: students benefit from multiple entry points into meaningful historical study.

A young protagonist opens a door to bigger questions

According to BH365 and JYE, the collection follows Kemet, a 10-year-old African American boy who travels through time aboard a ship called the Sankofa 82. Along the way, the organizations say, he encounters people and moments that shaped Black History, then returns with lessons for young readers today.

That premise gives a familiar adventure format an educational purpose. A time-travel story can help children imagine historical figures as real people facing choices, challenges, creativity, and leadership—not distant names to memorize. Comics also combine visual cues, dialogue, pacing, and narrative sequence, which can give readers useful context as they encounter unfamiliar settings or ideas.

The organizations say the single-volume collection was designed for classroom, library, and family use. Its focus on a child protagonist is especially notable: a young reader can approach significant topics beside a peer-like guide rather than feeling that history is being delivered from far away. BH365 founder and CEO Dr. Walter Milton Jr. said in the announcement that young people deserve to see themselves in history “as heroes, not footnotes.”

For adults supporting children, the strongest use of a comic is rarely to treat it as the entire lesson. Instead, it can become a starting point: read a section, pause at a question, identify what the story presents, and look for additional classroom materials or age-appropriate sources that expand the context. This approach respects both the power of storytelling and the importance of thoughtful historical inquiry.

Why the BH365 and JYE partnership matters

According to the announcement, BH365 contributes a K–12 ethnic studies curriculum and publishing platform, while JYE contributes storytelling and character-driven media. BH365 says it offers resources across the full K–12 span, including textbooks, curriculum, supplemental materials, and original media. JYE says it develops original live-action and animated film, television, comic content, and educational projects and workshops for schools, libraries, and organizations.

Bringing those strengths together could help educators connect an engaging reading experience to a wider instructional sequence. The organizations say the partnership is intended to link the Kemet stories with curriculum, classrooms, and community. That is a meaningful design goal. A standalone story may spark curiosity, while a broader scope and sequence can help teachers decide what students should explore next and how to revisit ideas at increasing levels of complexity.

“Kemet does what great teaching does. He makes the past feel close enough to touch,” Dr. Milton said in the organizations’ announcement.

JYE president Joe Young said the character was created to make Black History exciting and relevant for young people through comics, adventure, and technology. The announced collection builds on a wider Kemet franchise that, according to JYE, includes youth activity sheets, television specials, public service announcements, and a mascot.

BH365 and JYE deserve credit for centering a creative, youth-facing format while describing a connection to instructional resources. Representation in learning materials matters, and so does the chance for students to encounter history through art, curiosity, and discussion. The partnership’s stated emphasis on classrooms, libraries, and families acknowledges that learning about history happens across all three settings.

Practical ways families and teachers can use historical comics

Whether educators are working with this collection or another historical comic, a few simple routines can turn reading into richer learning. The goal is not to quiz children on every page; it is to help them notice, question, and connect.

• Set a purpose before reading. Invite students to watch for one person, event, decision, or question they want to understand better.
• Separate story choices from historical questions. Ask which parts are presented through the character’s adventure and which details readers may want to investigate in other sources.
• Read images as carefully as words. Discuss facial expressions, setting, symbols, captions, and panel order. Visual storytelling often carries ideas that dialogue does not state directly.
• Make room for reflection. A brief prompt such as “What stayed with you?” or “What would you like to learn next?” can welcome a range of responses.
• Extend the learning. Students might create a timeline, write a diary entry from a historical perspective, compare two sources, or research a person mentioned in the reading.

Families who want support with follow-up questions can also use COSMIQ, a free voice-driven AI tutor that is free forever for every K–12 student. A student might ask for help defining a term, organizing a research question, or practicing how to summarize what they read; adults should still encourage students to check important historical claims against reliable, age-appropriate sources.

A welcome invitation to keep learning

According to BH365 and JYE, the September announcement included the unveiling of Kemet: The Time Traveler, remarks from the partners and invited guests, and an appearance by the Kemet mascot. The event marked the beginning of a national collaboration, not merely the release of a book.

For teachers, parents, librarians, and students, the larger takeaway is encouraging: Black History education can be rigorous, joyful, imaginative, and ongoing. BH365 and JYE’s announced effort offers a thoughtful example of how curriculum and original storytelling can meet in service of young learners. For students who want to build related study habits across subjects, COSMIQ’s free practice hub provides grade- and subject-based practice alongside the conversations sparked by a good book.

As this partnership develops, its most lasting value may be the questions it invites: Whose stories have shaped the world around us? How do we learn from the past? And what can young people discover when they are welcomed into history with curiosity and care?