Books and Movies Share Black History
by Theresa Carpine1/19/2008 4:08:29 PM
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The life’s work of Dr. King and the history of the Civil Rights Movement can be a tricky subject for parents. It's an uncomfortable topic, but it’s also important to remember how far we've come as a nation. Even if parents are uneasy about addressing certain questions, kids can learn lessons about diversity and accepting each other's differences from discussing this period of American history.
One helpful way to start a conversation about some of these issues is to use books, films, and songs to share stories about African-American history.
The Story of Ruby Bridges is an illustrated children’s book by Robert Coles. Published in 1995, this story describes the events surrounding the desegregation of New Orleans schools in 1960. Ruby’s quiet bravery in the face of adversity and her compassion for all people demonstrate to kids that you’re never too young to stand up for what you believe in. Singer/songwriter Lori McKenna was inspired to write a song called “Ruby’s Shoes” when her son was working on a school book report about Ruby. You can get a free download of this song at Ruby Bridges’ official website.
Carole Boston Weatherford offers another youthful perspective on the events of the Civil Rights Movement with her book Freedom on the Menu, which describes the sit-ins at the Woolworth’s lunch counter. She also wrote the non-fiction account The African-American Struggle for Legal Equality in American History, which is appropriate for readers ages 9 to 12. This book includes hands-on activities like songs, recipes and plays that will help kids connect personally with the historical events.
Although I’m not a die-hard sports fan, movies and books about sports appeal to me because they celebrate the triumphs of ordinary people. Many sports stories also describe how games and athletics can bring people of various backgrounds together to achieve a common goal.
The film “Remember the Titans” (rated PG for thematic elements and some language) focuses on high school integration in the 1960s. This true story stars Denzel Washington as a football coach who leads his black and white players in a winning season, but more importantly, helps them to accept each other without regard to race. The film also has a great soundtrack with lots of folk and R&B classics from the era.
If baseball’s your game, check out A Picture Book of Jackie Robinson by David A. Adler and Robert Casilla, an illustrated biography of the first African-American to play major league ball, changing the landscape of professional sports forever.
By watching movies and reading books as a family, you can begin a conversation with your kids about race and diversity. They’ll be captivated by the stories and, hopefully, learn a little something about the world as well.
Do you have other recommendations for books, movies and music that you’d like to share with parents? What have you experienced in teaching history and tolerance to your children? If you’d like to share your thoughts with other Bellingham parents, write to us!