Celebrating the life of Fannie Lou Hamer
The youngest of twenty children born to sharecroppers in the Mississippi Delta, Fannie Lou Hamer grew up to become a hero of the civil rights movement. She participated in marches, sit-ins, and voter education training. Malcolm X called her “the country’s number one freedom-fighting woman”, and in 1964, she ran for elective office three times. - Voice of Freedom, Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement, by Carole Boston Weatherford and Illustrated by Ekua Holmes
School was open four months - December through March - when children were not needed to tend cotton. I liked school even if black history was left out and the textbooks made blacks seem like fools. I recited poetry and won many a spelling bee.
Fair.
May I have a definition?
Free of bias, dishonest and injustice.
Fair. F-A-I-R. Fair
I sang, too, up through sixth grade, and then left to work full time in the fields.
Excerpt - Voice of Freedom, Fannie Lou Hamer
The Reading List
If you are looking for some good reads - try these.
"Read a book, gain knowledge, share the knowledge and read another book." - Ramona Johnson
Summertime in Philly by Cindy Robinson-Brown
Summertime in Philly captures the author’s vivid memories of growing up in southwest Philadelphia. She talks about playing in the fire hydrant, eating ice cream from the Mr. Tastee truck and dancing at block parties.
Cassie meets Savannah and the Lunch Crew by Cindy Robinson-Brown
Cassie Meets Savannah and the Lunch Crew, explores the topic of bullying but with a comical twist. At a time when bullying, cyber-bulling and violent behavior is at an all time high, it is imperative that children have the tools to guard themselves against bullies, while understanding that it is never okay to demean or attach others.
The Misadventures of Tarah and Darah - The Switch by Dyesha & Triesha McCants
Tarah and Darah have hatched a hilarious prank. But, when they start to trick their friends, they realize that there’s more to being twins than simply looking alike.
Just Like You by Keosha Sath
This book encourages more girls to think about obtaining science, technology, engineering, and mathematics jobs, as there is a shortage of women in these fields.
Granddaddy Parallelogram - The Power of Unity by Janel Williams
Learn advance geometric concepts through this beautifully illustrated story. Children and adults can learn from this very creative way of introducing and reinforcing the concepts. And, it’s a story that one can enjoy reading over and over again.
ellington was not a street by Ntozake Shange
This is lovely story with some amazing illustrations by Kadir Nelson. It is reflective of a time when the greats like Paul Robeson, W.E.B. DuBois and others would gather to discuss family, enjoy great music and some soul food and to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing our community. Ellington was not a street but a place full of beauty, hope, friendship and above all - love!
Peter's Chair, Whistle for Willie and The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Imagine, you now have a new baby sister and that feeling that things are not quite the way they use to be. Or, you desperately want to learn how to whistle and then it happens. And lastly, you wake up one morning to snow and spend all day enjoying the outdoors and the joy of being a kid. These are all Peter's adventures and these books allow you to join the experiences with him.
Little Leaders - Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison
Little Leaders is a beautiful book about some very beautiful African American women. Some of the names you may recongize such as Phillis Wheatley, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Zora Neale Hurston, Rosa Parks, Ella Fitzgerald and many others. It is also filled with names that may not be as familiar but equally as important. Those less familiar names include those like Lorna Simpson, Marcelite Harris, Raven Wilkinson and Audre Lorde. This book will provide inspiration to all the little leaders in your life.
Little Man Little Man by James Baldwin and Yoran Cazac
This is the first and only children's book written by James Baldwin. The book is available once again after a 40 year period. James Baldwin wrote this charming book for his nephew and it is a story about his childhood. Told only like James Baldwin or Uncle Jimmy could, it describes growing up in Harlem. Depending on your age, the story may remind you of your own childhood. Those days when life was carefree and learning was abundant.
No Crystal Stair, A Documentary Novel of the Life and Work of Lewis Michaux, Harlem Bookseller by Yaunda Micheaux Nelson
A compilation of letters, pictures, quotes, and interviews all set the stage and tell the story (at least in part) of what we know about the man Lewis Michaux. Michaux was ahead of his time and was among the first African Americans to open a bookstore. Of course, there were many naysayers who said it would never work. A bookstore in Harlem? But, boy did he prove them wrong. It is impossible to know the number of people whose lives were changed or the magnitude of how his bookstore helped to change the consciousness of a people. However, we know that it did and that's all that matters.
The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou
If you are like millions of Americans, you have a favorite Maya Angelou poem and chances are, it’s contained in this thorough collection of poems. It includes Still I Rise, Phenomenal Women, I Almost Remember, Ain’t That Bad?, Life Doesn’t Frighten Me and many more. However, if the poem was written after 1994 - it won’t be included.