Black history is American history, yet too often (almost always) American history is told through a lens of whiteness, usually male whiteness. This means stories about Black or Indigenous folks or any minority and marginalized group are not given the full accuracy and repercussions of events that are worth noting.
For too long American history has been told through and about white voices; there are too many truths to learn and process to keep going this way. It's not fair to people of color or Black students to have their voices silenced because of white fragility. America is a rich and flawed nation, and in order for us to fight systemic racism and stop repeating mistakes of our past, we need to understand the whole of American history. Here are some great books, movies, and podcasts that center Black voices so you and your kids can widen your scope of historical knowledge.
Younger Kids: 1. 'March On! The Day My Brother Martin Changed the World'
March On! The Day My Brother Martin Changed the World is a DVD collection of four children's stories read in dramatic fashion with images from their books. The stories talk about slavery, the Underground Railroad, segregation, and the fight for civil rights. While appropriate for preschoolers, some parental reviews on Common Sense Media say kids 9 years old and up will have a better understanding of these history lessons. However, with patience and clear, simple language, preschoolers can absolutely be engaged in "big" topics.
2. 'The Journey of Henry Box Brown'
The Journey of Henry Box Brown is a short 28-minute animated film that tells the true story of a former slave who shipped himself to freedom. The film discusses the need for everyone to be free while highlighting the resiliency of Black people in their fight for freedom.
3. 'Lillian's Right to Vote: A Celebration of the Voting Rights Act of 1965'
Just because the 15th Amendment allowed Black men to vote, that doesn't mean they actually could. It wasn't until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that Black people had a better chance to vote when certain methods used to disenfranchise Black voters, like literacy tests, were eliminated. But even with those anti-discrimination laws in place, there are still more hurdles for Black people to get to the polls than their white peers. Lillian's Right to Vote by Jonah Winter takes us through the memories of a 100-year-old Black woman on her way to vote.
4. 'Let the Children March'
Let the Children March by Monica Clark-Robinson is a children's picture book told through Black children's voices. The book tells and shows the fears, frustrations, and injustices of simply being Black. My kids were in awe of the bravery Black kids showed when they volunteered to march after hearing Martin Luther King Jr. speak in Birmingham, Alabama. They were equally disgusted by the way white adults — police officers too — treated the Black kids who just wanted to play and learn where white kids were allowed but they were not.
5. 'Kojo for Kids': 'Jason Reynolds Talks About Racism and the Protests'
Kojo Nnamdi, who hosts a radio talk show, talked to YA book author Jason Reynolds. The two had a conversation about why people are protesting all over the country right now; they talk about police violence against Black people and the meaning of white privilege. This episode of the Kojo for Kids podcast is a great follow-up to reading Let the Children March to show why Black people still need to hold rallies and take to the streets to be heard.
6. 'Juneteenth for Mazie'
Juneteenth for Mazie by Floyd Cooper is a children's book that celebrates freedom for all slaves in America. The Emancipation Proclamation did not end all slavery in the United States; that day didn't happen for another two years, on June 19, 1865. This book uses fiction to tell a real story of triumph.
Tweens and Teens: 7. 'Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You'
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds (yes, the YA author I mentioned above) is a condensed and student-friendly book from Kendi’s award-winning book Stamped From the Beginning. The book is about race, how racist ideas were born, and what we can do to combat them.
Shop Now: Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You hardcover book (Amazon)
8. 'Seeing White'
Seeing White is a 14-episode podcast from Scene On Radio. It is an engaging and maddening look at the conception of race and how whiteness was created to keep Black people from achieving freedom. Host John Biewen with regular guest Chenjerai Kumanyika talk to educators, authors, and other professionals while highlighting the systemic racism that our country was built on.
9. 'Code Switch': 'On the Shoulders of Giants'
Colin Kaepernick has shown kids that sports are more than competition and teamwork. Sports have always been a place to make statements about social and political injustices. "On the Shoulders of Giants" is an episode on the podcast Code Switch, hosted by Shereen Marisol Meraji and Gene Demby, that tells the stories of three Black athletes who broke barriers and why it was necessary to do so.
10. '42: The Jackie Robinson Story'
If your tween or teen loves sports, this is another great way to show institutional racism through the story of Black athletes like baseball player Jackie Robinson. Robinson's determination should be celebrated, but we need to acknowledge that he never should have been subjected to such harmful discrimination in the first place.
11. 'Code Switch': 'A Tale of Two School Districts'
"A Tale of Two School Districts" is another episode from Code Switch that addresses the vast differences in our education system based on race and money. All classrooms and textbooks are not created equal.
12. '13th'
13th is a documentary on Netflix that explores the intersection of race and the mass incarceration of Black people. The documentary is best for more mature tweens and teenagers because it doesn't hold back on the brutal reality of the criminal justice system and how it has continued to enslave Black people.
If we want history to stop repeating itself, we need to take the time to learn what our history really says about us. It's OK to feel uncomfortable while learning; let that be your guide to stop the toxic cycle of racism.
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