[AZmomof3]

Hi, we have adopted 3 AA boys as infants. Now they are getting older and starting to realize through school about stuff like slavery, civil rights, and all the hard things that AA people in our country have been through. Our oldest feels things very deeply and so naturally this has really bothered him. What are ways to make AA history not seem so negative? I guess I can focus on people like Harriet Tubman or Martin Luther King Jr. but the reason they did what they did was because of terrible things happening to African Americans. What can I give our kids to be proud of about their history? That they persevered through hard times I guess. Any other ideas or thoughts? Thanks--

[Linny]

(We've adopted AA babies too...and still hoping for more.... You know.....I've been a public school teacher and now am a homeschooler. I found some very good material for public and homeschoolers about AA's within history and learned a lot myself in the process.
You might try a school curriculm store and see what they have. There ARE some materials that go far beyond the MLK stuff---which is great stuff, but there's just soooo much more---and a lot of positive stuff too.
Good luck.

Sincerely,

Linny

[AZmomof3]

Thanks Linny! I'm homeschooling also so I guess I'll have to "dig a little deeper". We're doing early American history next year so I'll have to try and suppliment with stories of AA folks too. It can be hard to find the balance between emphasizing our differences too much and not enough, you know? I don't want our kids always wishing they were white, and I want them to be proud of who they are and where they came from, but at the same time I think you can talk about it too much to where they always feel different and not quite a part of your family, and I don't think that's good either. Anyways, lots of complex issues to work through.

[Sleeplvr]

Can we post links to Amazon books lists? There's a teacher who has posted a book list for children of color. It has various books on AA, NA and Latino History, Scientists and Inventors. It's an excellent list.

[Jensboys]

When our boys were little we bought the book series "Famous Black ****" I think there is Scientists, Inventors, Teachers, Heroes etc

Did you know that the sprinkler was invented by a black person? What about the baby crib?

It branches out their knowledge and pride in who they are from the sort of "MLK - Black Awareness Month" superficial stuff that can be taught.

Also, point out interesting, successful, proud etc AA people on TV, in the news etc. Often times my kids wouldnt realize that "so and so" is "black like them". Sort of that gap in race awareness in the early school years.

Also, have them around mentors and same race family as much as possible. We changed churches when our boys were 3,4,5 to a church with a black pastor - he and his family are OUR family now.

Have the artwork in your home represent black culture, or be by black artists. Play music by great black musicians, or by lesser known black musicians. You have to be CONSCIOUS about it ... because society is so heavily leaning towards the majority culture - and it might feel awkward at first, but its worth it.

[scandi]

there are alot of good stories on shows like Cosby, FAmily Matters that talk about Black History and being Proud of being African American. My youngest is AA and he likes the shows with people that are "black like him". Also for older kids the show Lincoln Heights from Disney Family channel is a really good show. I wish that I could find it on DVD

I agree that there are alot of good homeschooling resources out there.

[nickchris]

My oldest son is very sensitive, and was to the discussion of the Civil war, and the scant, but depressing mention of slavery, in elementary school.
I asked him why did he not like the topic of slavery, and essentially he indicated, that it was depressing. I continued discussing with him.. and came to this conclusion. The schools give basic if little information on what Blacks have contributed to the US, and in general. Slavery, Jim Crow, and thereafter, is not a nice topic, it just shows a group of people whose basic rights ere trampled on, an depicted as less than etc;. On top of it, not enough balance of who and what Blacks are, is not discussed. Blacks are more than that, going back to Africa.
Since then I found all sorts of information on the positive contributions that Blacks, all over have contributed to humanity in general. Go beyond the well known information. Not just sports, or actors, but science, political arenas, all of the firsts etc; trailblazers. The first cowboy, contribution to the military, agriculture, the origin of a large part of US music in general...the first female Black lawyer, the first doctors, inventions, and so on. Stories of those who fought against being enslaved, the resistance in the US, The Americas in general, and Africa, people like Dred Scott, people in slavery times, and after who presented their objections to the courts; integrity, intelligence, and bravery...against all odds.
Balance the depressing aspect of Black history, with the good, and show that Blacks are a strong group of people to have endured, yet in addition have contributed, and still does to the world, that strength is a legacy that was passed down to all Black children today.
That is what I am doing to instill pride in my kids, it did not seem to register at first, but they do absorb the informaiton, and you will be surprised. So far the oldest son is becoming a proud little peacock. :-) I can see the strength of his self identity building.

There is a resource section in the AA adoption parent support subsection; that has lots of information to start.. Best wishes... :-)

Originally Posted by AZmomof3

Hi, we have adopted 3 AA boys as infants. Now they are getting older and starting to realize through school about stuff like slavery, civil rights, and all the hard things that AA people in our country have been through. Our oldest feels things very deeply and so naturally this has really bothered him. What are ways to make AA history not seem so negative? I guess I can focus on people like Harriet Tubman or Martin Luther King Jr. but the reason they did what they did was because of terrible things happening to African Americans. What can I give our kids to be proud of about their history? That they persevered through hard times I guess. Any other ideas or thoughts? Thanks--

[AZmomof3]

Thanks so much for all your replies!

[Sohmakun]

Also make sure you show them example of how CC people and AA people worked side by side to help fight discrimination. For example my niece wrote a report about how the Jews fought Brown vs. Board of Education with blacks in the 1950's. I would suggest that you try to get away from the "us vs. them" mentality and show that harmony amongst differences really does exist.

[gracemetcalf]

Part of the problem is that US schools focus on American history as told from the perspective of whites only, with other races playing supporting roles. While MLK and Harriet Tubman are important figures, they don’t begin to scratch the surface of black contributions to American social and political development. I would urge anyone interested in learning about African American history (or Asian American or Hispanic American history—though those are even more drastically underrepresented subjects in American schools) to take a class in that subject or else read texts BY African Americans about African American history. Two comprehensive books to look at are Walkin the Talk: An Anthology of African American Studies, and The African American Odyssey, two volumes.

[radkat]

I use websites like...
Famous Black Inventors

We've studied the writings of Dr. Maya Angelou and Langston Hughes.

Maya Angelou - The Official Website
Langston Hughes

For modern day history I've used Real African American Heroes to study about African-american astronauts. (There were more than I thought)

Hope this helps,
Kathy