Black History is American History. We are all part of this fabric that makes up the quilt of America. However, the story of our history has been downplayed in the history books that it is pathetic. We have to teach our children the truth. If you don’t know your history you are bound to repeat it.
As evident as to the times right now in the U.S. I stand with everyone. I don’t play with Christianity and I don’t play with my love for this country. Which is why I have the right to criticize her when she’s wrong.
But, in the midst of all this drama that is occurring here in the U.S. I want to remind you that it’s never to early to start to teach our children about Black History. I started when Munch was 6 and learning to read. He did a report on black history and I wanted to try and fill in the blanks. Munch has an extensive school schedule but I wanted to spend time with him this month focusing on our history outside of his French and English curriculum. I want to fill in the blanks for him and allow him the opportunity to know what it means to say “I’m black and I’m proud”.
Pride and self-love are very important in any race. I’m teaching him to love the skin he’s in. You can’t change it. It’s beautiful. You’re beautiful and wanted.
So, my black history month reading list for Munch includes the following 4 books:
What are you doing to teach your children about black history month? Do you have any suggested reading material for an 8 year old?
A Thomas Point of View 
This is a great list of reading! Adults could benefit from reading those books too! My mom started me on Black History when I was young also and I am forever grateful. She like you also took the time to dig deeper and really show me what it meant to be black and proud. I think in middle school she started having me watch PBS civil rights films and similar shows.
I love this statement to define blackness and any race, “You’re beautiful and wanted.”
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Thanks sis!
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Me too. What about the book ‘roll of thunder hear my cry’? Its good, and great for children of all ages. It does have the “n word”, but the book isn’t really that inappropriate for children.
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Okay, I’ll check it out. Thanks for your recommendation.
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No problem!
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Great lessons that are important for everyone, but the broader trend with history is to change what is taught so that a particular ideology is promoted at the expense of another ideology. The reason why knowing the past is so vital is because other people will fill in the past with a distorted version.
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truth.
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I think I’ll be reading a couple of those!
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Great picks! What about also Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad? Or Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans? I haven’t read these but the first one sounds interesting and the second won an award winner.
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LOL, I love it. Thanks Stephieann!
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It’s the librarian in me 😁
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My daughter enjoyed The Watson go to Birmingham, by Christopher Paul Curtis (I hope I have that right – he came to her school when she was in elementary). It is set in Birmingham around the time of the church bombing, and told from the point of view of a young boy.
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Thank you for the recommendation. I will totally check it out.
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My teenage Asian-born adopted son asks why we need Black History Month. (I’m Caucasian, NOT White). I said that African Americans were too long excluded from history classes, except as slaves. He asked then why we don’t we just fix the history classes during the entire year? Smart kid.
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I’m so sorry for the delay. Your comment got caught in spam. Your son is very smart. I love it. Thank you for commenting.
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Did he already read Roll of Thunder? It’s the first in the Mildred Taylor series. I think the one you have is the second?
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No, we didn’t. I will look for Roll of Thunder. I just saw it in the Scholastic Books selection and wanted to read it with him. I’ll add Roll of Thunder. Thanks for the suggestion.
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