In Martin Luther King, Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech he presses the American people to confront racism, to recognize “the fierce urgency of now” at that juncture of history. “This is no time to engage in the luxury of …
Tag: american history

powerful picture books…read Black History!
Remember last year in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death when we all sat up and listened more urgently to Black voices and recognized how much we had to learn, to grow, to unlearn, to understand? Time runs along. If …

eyes on the prize…books to celebrate MLK Day 2021
What an extraordinary moment MLK Day will be this year. In 2020, we witnessed massive, passionate, global protests for civil rights, and heightened awareness of the work yet to do to bring equality and justice to all people. In just …
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five full of beauty and history…it’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day!
Today in Minneapolis, as well as in about 12 other states and numerous cities, we celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day. It’s a meaningful opportunity to recognize the amazing cultures and hundreds of sovereign nations that preceded Europeans in North America, the …
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voting rocks!: juicy resources for all ages
As we enter the final months before Election Day, and especially as many of you are educating from home this fall, it’s a perfect time to learn together about voting rights, elections, and American government as we journey towards a …

in honor of John Lewis
John Lewis’s death is a massive loss for our nation, and one that deeply saddens me. I stand in awe of his courage and perseverance, his bent towards peace, and his unflagging hope. His encouragement to “make good trouble,” inspires …

Riches for All: It’s Black History Month
February is Black History Month, a time when we purpose to read and learn about the Black experience and about gifted Black individuals in our world. As I read to gather titles for this post, I was struck by how …

a delightful dozen…stories for women’s history month…part one
March is Women’s History Month and each week I’ll have a post with that focus. I’ve got a dozen picture book biographies giving us twelve new women to admire. The first six are here for you today. I’ll also have …
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read to understand… Indigenous People’s Day
Yesterday, in recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, I wrote about my on-going attempts to grow in my understanding of the history and cultures of Indigenous peoples in the Americas. Today and tomorrow I’ve got a large selection of recommended titles …