Teach Children About Black History

Miami FL

04 February, 2021

11:04 AM

Description

By Terri Schlichenmeyer, Miami Times Contributor Feb 2, 2021 When you're a kid, there are so many things to learn. Someone has to teach you your A-B-Cs and to count to a hundred. You have to learn to tie a knot, make good choices and stay safe. And this month, you should learn more about Black History, and that can be fun with these great books. For the littlest reader aged 3-5, "The ABCs of Black History" by Rio Cortez and illustrated by Lauren Semmer is a great way to start the lesson. This most fundamental book includes the holidays, cities, people and music that form the base of Black History, in colorful drawings and a format that's fun. Slightly older kids from 4 to about 7 – those who still love picture books – will want "Stompin' at the Savoy" by Moira Rose Donohue and illustrated by Laura Freeman, a book about the life of famed drummer Chick Webb, or "Life As You Climb: The Story of Ella Baker" by Patricia Hruby Powell and R. Gregory Christie, the tale of activist Baker and her inspirational work. Also look for "The Teacher's March! How Selma's Teachers Changed History" by Sandra Neil Wallace and Rich Wallace, illustrated by Charly Palmer. It's the story of Rev. Frederick D. Reese and his co-workers in Selma, Alabama, in 1965. For middle schoolers, "This is Your Time" by Ruby Bridges is a quick but impactful book, perfect for Black History Month. Bridges, of course, is a civil rights icon, and this is the story of her life and the day she was escorted by federal marshals into a white school, a brave little 6-year-old Black girl changing history. Her tale will inspire young readers to help create justice in their classrooms and neighborhoods. Also for older kids aged 12 and up, "Ida B. The Queen: The Extraordinary Life and Legacy of Ida B. Wells" by Michelle Duster looks like it might be a storybook. The truth is that it is a story – it's a bunch of stories, in fact. First, of Ida B. Wells, crusader, writer and suffragist, but not justher. The book is also about the people she inspired, the singers, lawmakers, inventors, thinkers and others. Keep in mind that this is a big book, with lots of sidebars in a skinny cover; having a bookmark and notebook nearby might be handy. And finally, for high school readers, "Separate No More: The Long Road toBrown v. Board of Education" by Lawrence Goldstone begins more than 100 years ago with a landmark ruling on education for Black citizens and ends with another one that turned the first one upside down. Not just a story of an event, though, this book also looks at the people involved: judges, parents, teachers, politicians, citizens and students who merely wanted to go to school. If these books don't quite fit your child's interests, ask your librarian or bookseller for ideas. There's sure to be a title you and your child will love to read and share because, when it comes to Black History, there's really so much to learn. Black History books for kids aged 3 to 18; various authors and illustrators. Prices range from $14.95 to $27. The Miami Times is the largest Black-owned newspaper in the south serving Miami's Black community since 1923. The award-winning weekly is frequently recognized as the best Black newspaper in the country by the National Newspaper Publishers Association.