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YA Books from Black Voices

Writer's picture: thebookblondiethebookblondie

“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.“ - Nelson Mandela

I’ve seen a lot of people saying that 2020 is throwing too many curveballs at us, but the problems with racism and police brutality stretch much further than then confines of the past five months.⁣⁣

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This is not a “2020 problem,” this is a systemic and societal problem. ⁣⁣

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Hate is taught. Hate is put into practice when crimes are committed against our friends and families because of appearances. Hate is made acceptable by the powers above us when these crimes are not taken seriously. Hate is perpetuated when our elected leaders choose to set poor examples for their citizens. ⁣⁣

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Love and acceptance, however, can be taught as well, and teachers, that education begins with us. ⁣⁣

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This photo shows just a sampling of the books I use in my classroom to educate my students. I hope that the lessons from these books help to promote empathy, equality, and social justice. I hope these books open my students’ minds to the topics of privilege, discrimination, and oppression. I hope that books such as these lead young, impressionable minds in the right direction to uncover ways in which they, too, can teach tolerance and impact the world in which we live. ⁣⁣

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Mostly, I hope these books make them think.⁣⁣

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It's difficult to find ways to speak to our students about racism and social justice. As teachers, we have to be very careful about the words we use to ensure that we send the right messages. I have found that speaking through characters is a method that helps. Books allow students to put themselves in the shoes of others and they provide students with well-rounded character perspectives that differ from their own. Literature is not the sole vehicle to help teach our students about tough topics, but I have found that it helps to open doors that would otherwise remain closed.⁣⁣

I truly believe in education as the catalyst for change, and I want to share the power of teaching through literature. I have compiled a folder of teaching guides and classroom recommendations for whole-class reading, small lit circles, and independent reading. If you’re an educator, a parent, or if you just want to learn, send a DM with your email and I’ll send you teaching guides and discussion questions. ❤️

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