“I am Martin Luther King, Jr. I stand for peace. I stand for justice. I stand to help others. I stand as proof that no matter how hard the struggle, we must fight for what is right and work to change what is wrong. Whatever struggle you face, no matter how hard it gets, you must always move forward. I am proof of this. If we rise up, if we stand together, if we remain united, nothing can stop our dream.”
– I am Martin Luther King, Jr. by Brad Meltzer
February is Black History Month – a time to celebrate, pay tribute, andΒ raise awareness of the monumental contributions that African Americans have made to our society. This annual event was first celebrated during the second week of February, in 1926. It was called Negro History Week. It took fifty years before the annual celebration was expanded, when President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month, during the United States Bicentennial, in 1976. Ford urged all Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
I personally feel that my early education failed to introduce me to many outstanding African Americans who have changed the world for the better. I want so much more for our daughter. I want her to know an abundance of individuals who’ve stood up for what’s right, who’ve made a difference, who’ve done something incredible, or who’ve inspired us to be better citizens – no matter their race, sex, religion, ethnicity, socio-economic status, age, etc. I believe that we all have the ability to make this world a better place, and I want our little nugget to have a wealth of examples and role models. As you likely know by now…I think that books are one of the best learning tools that we have – we can gather a wealth of knowledge by simply reading.Β So, as we prepare to launch into Black History Month, we’ve selected some children’s books that will introduce our entire family to several incredibly inspiring African Americans.
Children’s Books for Black History Month (2019)
- Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison
- We shared this book previously, in our Inspiring Books for Young Girls post, and we just had to snag it from the library again for Black History Month. We love randomly flipping through the pages of thisΒ beautifully-illustrated book, to discover and learn about severalΒ incredible black women who have changed the world. Being black and female often meant (and unfortunately still often means) being invisible. But these womenβ¦these poets, activists, physicians, lawyers,, entertainers, pilots, teachers, artists, scientists, generals, astronauts, and athletesβ¦these women dared to go after their dreams; dared to demand what they deserved; dared to make the world a better place. From Harriet Tubman, Ida B. Wells, Ella Fitzgerald, Katherine Johnson, Maya Angelouβ¦their stories are powerful and full of hope, courage, and inspiration.
- That Is My Dream! by Langston Hughes & Daniel Miyares
- Langston Hughes’s poem, “Dream Variations” was published in 1926, as part of his first poetry collection, titled The Weary Blues. His inspiring poem speaks of an African American’s longing for freedom and acceptance – a world free of discrimination and racial prejudice. Illustrator, Daniel Miyares, brings the poem to life with beautiful artwork depicting a young African-American boy dealing with the harsh reality of racism and segregation. Despite all of this, the boy dreams of a better life – one full of freedom and possibility – one where he can fling his arms wide in the face of the sun.
- I am Martin Luther King, Jr. by Brad Meltzer
- We have read a handful of Brad Meltzer’s series of books highlighting ordinary people who have changed the world, and we’ve found each of them to be inspiring and educational. This particular story provides the perfect opportunity for little ones to learn about the remarkable Martin Luther King Jr. We learn about his childhood – growing up in a segregated America.Β Β We learn about his love and admiration for words, and how he used them to bring people together to participate in nonviolent protests and marches – to stand up and fight for what’s right. And we learn about his dreams for racial equality in America. We love the many inspiring messages that this book shares – but the one that we love the most is the importance of showing someone love when they show you hate; showing someone kindness when they show you violence. We want our daughter to know that itβs better to have more love in her life, than hate.Β βDarkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.β – MLK
- Be a King: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Dream and You by Carole Boston Weatherford
- It’s not always easy to stand up for what’s right. It’s not always easy to march for peace, or speak up when a classmate is being bullied. It’s not always easy to accept responsibility for a wrong you’ve committed, nor is it always easy to apologize. It’s not often easy to walk tall or beat the drum for justice. But the things in life worth truly living for, rarely come easy. This brilliant story encourages young readers to discover that they too can stand tall – that they too can follow in the footsteps of Martin Luther King Jr. – that they too can change the world.
- The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Civil Rights Activist by Cynthia Levinson
- Audrey Faye Hendricks is the youngest known person to be arrested during a civil rights protest in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963. At nine years old, she was determined to stand up for what was right – to end segregation and racial discrimination. When a cry went out to fill the jails of Birmingham with children, Audrey stood tall and offered to help. She participated in a peaceful march of protest, and as a result, she was arrested. After five days in juvenile detention, the rooms of the jail had been completely filled. Two days later, Audrey was released and sent home. And two months later, the City of Birmingham put an end to segregation laws. The peaceful protest had worked and Audrey was finally able to enjoy her ice cream…actually seated at the counter inside Newberry’s.
- I am Rosa Parks by Brad Meltzer
- This is yet another story in Brad Meltzer’s series about ordinary people changing the world. His goal with these books is to share the biographies of several American icons, in a way that is both fun and engaging for children of all ages. This particular book highlights the life of Rosa Parks – the incredible woman who sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott and brought an end to segregation on public buses…by peacefully refusing to give up her seat to a white person. Rosa Parks once again teaches us the importance of not only standing up for ourselves, but also standing up for what’s right (even if it occasionally requires sitting down).
I love reading these books with our daughter. I love watching her as she learns something new; as she discovers a new role model; as she realizes the unfairness of our world; and as she’s moved to stand up for others who have been wronged. I love her heart and her compassion…and I hope that she never loses sight of either one as she grows older. These stories have definitely sparked insightful questions and conversations with our daughter, and I love that she’s not afraid to ask “why?” Why were people treated so differently just because of the color of their skin? Why were their schools different? Why did some kids get playgrounds, while others did not? She looked at me as we read about Rosa Parks being arrested and said, “that makes me sad.” It makes me sad too – there are a lot of things that happened in the history of our country – there are a lot of things that are still happening – that are not right. Above all, I want our daughter to know that when we see acts of hate and injustice happening right before our eyes, that we need to stand tall and fight against it – with love and kindness.
Do you have any children’s books that you like to share with your kiddos during Black History Month? If so, I would love to hear about them in the comments below.
