Black History Month

We read so many great books back in February to celebrate and learn about Black History! Students noticed some common themes with Hispanic Heritage Month, and they empathized very strongly when characters faced injustice. It was a beautiful month of coming together in kindness and understanding and learning more about how all people deserve to be treated with respect, no matter what they look like or where they come from.

The History of We written & illustrated by Nikkolas Smith

Smith's book was the perfect one to kick off Black History Month! "Every human alive today, regardless of skin color or heritage, can trace their ancestry back to Africa." Africa is where language, art, music, style, dancing, surviving, and learning began. We have our world today because the first people ventured out into the unknown and created homes all across the Earth. Black History is all of our history!

The kids appreciated the beautiful illustrations in the book, and we loved discovering the timeline with the historical facts at the end. I highly recommend checking this book out if you want a quick but artful dive into human history!

The Last Stand written by Antwan Eady & illustrated by Jarrett & Jerome Pumphrey

We have been learning about the life cycle of fruits and vegetables, and this book partnered perfectly with our study! Antwan Eady wanted to write a book that highlighted Black farmers. The class loved seeing the usefulness of the plants we've been studying, and we got a bonus lesson on how Black farmers contribute to their communities.

Earl's stand in the farmer's market is the last one open. There used to be many, but as Eady pointed out in his author's note, Black farmers have not been provided the assistance that other farmers receive. The story follows Earl and his grandson as they advocate for farmers' rights, connect with their community, and work hard to make a living. But Earl is getting older and weaker, and his grandson has to step up. Little Earl realizes how important building relationships with others are to a business and learns to find joy in all the parts that make up farming and selling. Food is something we all need and can bring people together in harmony!

Mae Among the Stars written by Roda Ahmed & illustrated by Stasia Burrington

Black History Month is always a special time because there are so many amazing people to read about. The kids were blown away by the story of Mae Jemison, the first Black woman to go to space. They loved how Mae's parents surrounded her with love and always told her, "If you can dream it, if you believe it and work hard for it, anything is possible."

But making history isn't always easy. Mae was a dreamer, but not everyone believed in her. One of her teachers even told her to find a different job that would be better for someone like her. Mae's story shows the importance of having supportive adults in a child's life. Thankfully, Mae had others who didn't shut her dream down. They encouraged her to keep learning and were a safe place for her when obstacles arose. The class and I talked about finding those safe adults who make us feel loved, happy, and secure. With a strong community by our side, we can reach for the stars!

Seeds of Freedom written by Hester Bass & illustrated by E. B. Lewis

The students were very engaged with our lessons on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., so when I saw this book, I knew I had to get it! Hester Bass did a great job at walking young readers through life in 1960s Alabama. While exciting things were happening, segregation still permeated the state. The students were shocked that Black people couldn't even go to any restaurant or bathroom they wanted. "But change is in the air... It's time to bring people together... Time to sow the seeds of freedom."

Readers then see people peacefully come together to stand up against unfair laws. From sit-ins to marches, time in jail to boycotts, the Black citizens of Alabama started to make a difference in their communities. Yet change takes time. Life doesn't always go as planned. It's often two steps forward, one step back. The kids felt the push and pull of the book. They would get excited when there were successes and then were saddened when people were still prejudiced. This is a very relevant story to our lives today. Many times when there is progress, there is loud push back. So how do we keep hoping, keep trying? What can we do to keep cultivating the seeds of freedom?

The Power of Her Pen: The Story of Groundbreaking Journalist Ethel L. Payne written by Lesa Cline-Ransome & illustrated by John Parra

One of my favorite things is when I get to learn along with my students. I was not familiar with Ethel L. Payne but am now a huge fan! It is always inspiring to hear about how one person can make a difference. Ethel Payne faced racism growing up, but like Mae Jemison, she never stopped dreaming big. Ethel worked hard in school so she could go to college and get better at writing. She used her pen to tell the truth about her people: they were being treated unjustly. But she also used her pen to celebrate the beautiful events in her community! Ethel became a trusted reporter and even got the opportunity to talk with four different presidents. She was on the scene of the march in Selma and was never afraid to ask hard questions. "'Somebody had to do the fighting, somebody had to speak up,' Ethel...declared."

The Power of Her Pen moved my students and me. We immediately brainstormed things we can do in our school to show honesty, empathy, and courage, just like Ethel L. Payne. I hope the class takes this story with them wherever they go and that one day they will be change makers, too.

Not Quite Snow White written by Ashley Franklin & illustrated by Ebony Glenn

Franklin and Glenn teamed up to create such a cute but powerful book! The whole class ended up enjoying Tameika's story. Tameika is a star. She loves to sing and dance and feels right at home on stage. "She could be anything or anyone she wanted to be!" So when the next play, Snow White, got announced, she beamed. She would get the chance to be a princess!

But her classmates at school say she can't be Snow White. Since when is Snow White chubby and brown? One of my students immediately chimed in, "She shouldn't listen to them! She can be anything she wants." It prompted a great conversation on how others' words can hurt. We can't control what others say, and it's hard to stand up for yourself when others are tearing you down. We can control, though, how we respond. Even though she didn't feel as confident as she normally does, Tameika chose to respond by still auditioning. She didn't give up; she persevered. She didn't persevere in a hateful way. She was poised and joyful and showed her school that she is just enough.