Everyone’s History
By Sandy Meagher

Avail your students with this rich array of African American biographies.

When teachers are presenting biographies, I encourage them to incorporate all cultures of people within our country. Just as we incorporate all children into our classrooms to work together, we strive to represent all people who have contributed to our society. Here are several books to help teach about the lives and experiences of African Americans.

Ladies first
Rosa Parks made a decision, not a hasty one but one that was a part of what she believed in and stood for. Her passing on October 24, 2005, made every U.S. citizen reflect on this woman's life and the effect she had on our country. I have referred students and teachers to Rosa Parks by Jonatha A. Brown (Weekly Reader, 2005, ISBN: 0-836-84748-2). This book gives great informational websites, such as www.nncc.org and www.womenshistory.about.com These sites are current, up-to-date and very readable for students in primary grades. Also included in the book is a glossary as well as titles of other books. Another recommendation is the book for middle grade readers in the excellent "Journey to Freedom®: The African American Library" series, Rosa Parks (Child's World, 2000, ISBN: 1-567-66622-1). Each book in the series comes with a poster and an excellent lesson plan. Go to www.childsworld.com

Two books that really excited my staff were about another great Equal Rights woman, Marian Anderson. When Marian Sang by Pam Muñoz Ryan (Scholastic, 2002, ISBN: 0-439-26967-9), is a book that engulfs your mind and senses. The beautiful words of Marian Anderson's songs are so inspiring. Interestingly enough, the author wrote this book because of a true story she heard from the illustrator, Brian Selznick, about his uncle attending the historic concert where Marian sang at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939. A wonderful way for students to learn about writing is by asking their relatives about a special time from history that they were a part of – it makes the historic person so real to students. So many parents and grandparents play essential roles in students' lives, and asking them about historic events ties the bonds tighter than ever.

The authentic photographs in The Voice that Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights by Russell Freedman (Clarion, 2004, ISBN: 0-618-15976-2) are outstanding. Russell Freedman learned about the encounter between Marion Anderson and Eleanor Roosevelt that led to the Lincoln Memorial concert and then wrote this wonderful book.

Many biographies, one book
National Geographic does a wonderful job celebrating notable Black Americans with the book American Heroes by Marfe Ferguson Delano (National Geographic Children's Books, 2005, ISBN: 0-792-272 15-3). This book introduces each period of American history with the heroic biographies of that time. Civil War and Re-construction periods include men and women such as Sojourner Truth, Clara Barton and Frederick Douglass.

Poetic achievements
A scientist, George Washington Carver, is presented in poetry in an outstanding book titled Carver: A Life in Poems by Marilyn Nelson (Front Street, 2001, ISBN: 1-886-19053-7). The poems are a great interpretation of a very important life. Mentioning this to fourth grade teachers, we came up with the idea to challenge students to write or find a poem about a famous person from Pennsylvania. This is a great way to incorporate poetry and study people from our great nation.

Sometimes I forget the music teacher in book selection, but I have a dandy this time: Jazz ABZ: An A to Z Collection of Jazz Portraits by Wynton Marsalis (Candlewick, 2005, ISBN: 0-763-62135-8). Each jazz artist is presented in poetry and biographical sketches are also given. There is a dictionary of the poetic forms the author has used. Don't forget to play the artists' music when sharing this book.

Picturing black history
I always introduce holidays, famous people, contemporary issues and historical events with picture books if available, and there are some outstanding ones I must mention, beginning with Delivering Justice: W.W. Law and the Fight for Civil Rights by Jim Haskins (Candlewick, 2005, ISBN: 0-763-62592-2). This biography is a wonderful way for young children to understand what civil rights really means by learning about a man who lived his life for this cause. Another book with a similar message is Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-Ins by Carole Boston Weatherford (Dial, 2004, ISBN: 0-803-72860-3). The story is told from the viewpoint of a very young girl, so poignant for our students to envision.

Toni Morrison, a master storyteller and the first black woman to receive the Nobel Prize in literature, has written a modern-day photo essay, Remember: The Journey to School Integration (Houghton Mifflin, 2004, ISBN: 0-618-39740-X). The prose is priceless for introducing Black History Month or any aspect of civil rights.

My favorite picture book this year honoring African-American tradition is Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson (Putnam Juvenile, 2005, ISBN: 0-399-23749-6). Written in story and song, the author tells of "show ways," beautiful quilts with secret messages stitched into them, that are passed like family tales from generation to generation.

Making history
So many times students identify with contemporary people in the news. How happy I am when I can give them well-written nonfiction presented with truth and accuracy. Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell, Oprah Winfrey, Tiki Barber…all of these people impact children's lives. Education is inclusive of all and it becomes the teacher's pleasure to introduce these great people.

Sandy Meagher is the Library Department Chairperson and School Librarian in the Wayne Highlands School District, Honesdale, PA.

February, 2006, Vol.36, No.5