The following is a note from our Publisher, Jason Low, published in this month’s e-newsletter:
It’s been a hard few weeks for those of us following the news out of Ferguson, Missouri. While the exact details of Michael Brown’s death remain unknown, we can already see how this latest incident fits into a larger narrative in this country in which people of color are routinely discriminated against and subject to violence based on the color of their skin. Healing and change cannot begin until we as a country acknowledge the role racism plays not just in events like Michael Brown’s death, but in the everyday lived experiences of the 37% of America that is not white.
From a distance, it can seem like our book-filled corner of the world doesn’t have much to do with Michael Brown’s death, but we know better. The need for more diverse books and better representation is urgent. Poor representation doesn’t just damage self-esteem and confidence of children of color, it also perpetuates a skewed version of society as a whole. How can true equality ever exist if we are literally not even on the same page? Promoting diverse books is about creating a safer space for all children.
There are no easy ways to teach children about what’s happening in Ferguson, but here are couple links we’ve come across that help illuminate the issues and, perhaps, let us find teachable moments:
The Murder of Sean Bell: From Pain to Poetry
What did you tell your kids after the Zimmerman Verdict?
5 Books to Instill Confidence in African American Children
A Dream Conferred: Seven Ways to Explore Race in the Classroom
10 Resources for Teaching About Racism
America’s Racial Divide, Charted
Stark Racial Divisions in Reactions to Ferguson Police Shooting
We’ll add more links as we find them; meanwhile, please do share your favorites in the comments.
