Two educators in Philadelphia attempted to make history by delivering a 33-hour continuous lesson on Black history, aiming to break the existing world record for the longest history class.
Anita Lewis and Gwendolyn Ebron conducted the marathon lecture from Feb. 27 to Feb. 28 at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, according to reports from local television stations.
The event took place during the final days of Black History Month, with the educators focusing their teaching on 5,000 years of African and African-American history.
Attempting to Break a Global Record
Lewis and Ebron sought to surpass the current record for the longest history lesson, which stands at 26 hours and 34 minutes.
That record was set in 2018 at the University of North Texas and is recognized by Guinness World Records.
To qualify for the record, the educators had to follow strict guidelines. They were required to teach continuously and were allowed only one five-minute break per hour during the session.
In addition, a certified timekeeper, witnesses, and documentation were required to verify the attempt before submission to Guinness for official review.
A Mission to Expand Historical Awareness
Lewis said the idea for the record attempt came after she began searching for a new challenge following the completion of her doctorate.
She later connected with Ebron through Urban Intellectuals, a group dedicated to providing educational resources about Black history and culture.
Together, the two educators prepared extensively to assemble the lesson plan covering thousands of years of historical developments across Africa and the African diaspora.
Community Support and Global Audience
The teaching marathon drew a live audience in Philadelphia while also being streamed online through Urban Intellectuals’ platforms.
Participants and attendees praised the educators’ dedication and endurance.
“When I see their strength, I see me,” one audience member told the crowd during the event.
A Lesson Beyond the Record
Following the completion of the marathon, Lewis and Ebron submitted their documentation to Guinness World Records for verification.
Regardless of the final ruling, the educators say their effort was intended to inspire a broader commitment to preserving and teaching Black history.
“This is more than a record attempt — it is a reclamation,” Ebron said in a press statement. “We are teaching the history that shaped the world, honoring the brilliance, resilience, and global impact of African people across millennia.”
For the educators, the marathon lesson was not only about endurance, but about encouraging communities to pass knowledge of history to future generations.
