Books for Black History Month and All Year Long!

I know for some teachers it’s hard to discuss slavery with students no matter what age range they’re in.  However, it is necessary. We can’t just leave something out of history because it’s difficult to discuss.   Slavery had and still has an impact on us as a country.  It starts in the elementary grades with false or fake history.  We can tend to oversimplify it and our students carry this misinformation throughout their K-12 education.  Teaching slavery in the younger grades can be done.  Like most subjects, it can be built on and layered each year of their education. 

Our standards for Social Studies cover historical people like Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Benjamin Franklin.  I have introduced slavery and how Africans were enslaved as part of those units.  There are a few books I like to use as well as some primary sources.  The following titles are a great resource to use in the classroom. 

This book is very poet and is based on Harriet's 'spiritual' journey.  She believed that God told her to free the enslaved Africans.  

A story of how quilts were used as maps for the Underground Railroad.

Dave was an artist, poet, and potter living in South Carolina in the 1800s.

A historical book describes Christmas on a pre-Civil War plantation from the viewpoints of the big house family and the slave quarters.

I like to use a couple of books about each topic when I teach.  I usually have the main or mentor text then I have another book that may complement the main text. 

Ruby Bridges was not part of the first grade Social Studies standards until this year however, I have always taught the history of Ruby because of her age when she integrated Frantz Elementary school.  That history is extremely relatable to my students.  Ruby Bridges is my main text but I like to include Busing Brewster and Separate is Never Equal.

I wish more books were made similar to Dear Mrs. Parks: A Dialogue With Today's Youth.  

My students have so many questions when they learn about African-American heroes who are still alive.  I love the structure of the book in that the actual questions/letters are included.  Biographies and autobiographies are great but I believe this format is awesome! 

No matter who you teach your students about this year, start with a good picture book!  You can Google book lists or check out Pinterest.  I happen to love the blogger 

Hereweeread.  

She gives updated book lists on a variety of topics as it relates to diversity and children. Charnaie has an excellent post on having the discussion about race with your youngest students.  Click the link above to read more. 

Sweetpeagirls offers a subscription box with curated items of books and keepsakes for girls of color.  She also has an IG page with book reviews and information about new releases.  

Teaching Tolerance has a webinar that you can view along with great lessons and resources that relate to teaching hard history.  They have multiple lessons for  K-12  students.

It’s difficult to explain our history but we are charged to help students understand how the present relates to the past.