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Struggling to find educational products that affirm the identity of your Black or Brown children/students?
Don't miss out on some dope resources I've researched for you this month! 

Black. Brown. Brilliant. 
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Black 2 School Racial Identity-Affirming Resources: August/September 2016
Dear Parents & Teachers,

This summer has been an emotionally exhausting one for many of us!  The vivid videos and murders of Alton SterlingPhilando Castille, Koryn Gaines, and countless other Black and Brown bodies that have been killed at the hands of police, has left me feeling angry, deeply saddened, and afraid for my Afro-Latinx sons.  In reflecting on what has happened and what will continue to occur so long as institutionally racists policies are not demolished, I have pulled together some Black to school resources that will hopefully boost your spirits, but also inspire new ideas on how you plan to open the doors for some heavy conversations with your kids starting this new school year.  As a community, it is all our responsibility (not just parents) to come together to heal, support, and mobilize change in our communities.  So, let the lesson planning for social justice begin!  

Peace & Love,

Chemay Morales-James
Founder/Parent/Educator


Don't forget to check out some of the articles listed at the end of this newsletter for tips and ideas on how to have conversations about race and police brutality with youth of different ages.
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for organizations and individuals seeking  professional developmentinformational and self-empowerment workshops (See below.), research or program development  in helping them cultivate environments that support the creation of healthy racial and cultural identities for Black and Brown youth.

MRM produces a FREE newsletter
for parents and educators searching for educational products that affirm and reflect the cultural and racial identities of Black and Brown youth (PK-12).
Youth, above, can be seen engaged in a gallery walk exercise, lead by MRM, where they examined and discussed ways in which media "others"  Black and Brown bodies.

#MyReflectionMatters
Vision Board Workshop
This summer I had the privilege of working with the vibrant girls from Zimmnation's  D.R.3E.A.M. Summer Enrichment program in Waterbury, CT. We spent two days engaging in thought provoking activities that pushed them to examine concepts of Blackness and beauty in the media including how the #AllLivesMatter movement is another way in which our larger society shushes Black voices and pushes them into the margins. Each girl created a vision board that reflected their multiple identities, personal goals, and included quotes and images that created a counter narrative against negative societal stereotypes of Black and Brown women.  We closed our time together with a raffle give away that included MRM swag and a book from Maya Penn (Scroll down to #MRMbookfaves to learn more).

Interested in having me come to your school or organization to lead a #MyReflectionMatters Vision Board Workshop, book reading, or have something else in mind? Email me at myreflectionmatters@gmail.com.
Parents Who Inspire
If you are interested in learning more about me and the story behind why I started MRM, check out the article, Parents Who Inspire: Chemay Morales-James .   The author,  Shannon Gaggero, is a mommy blogger who writes about social justice and activism and openly shares her journey striving to be a conscious parent. You can check out her latest and past blogs at A Striving Parent.                          
Get Your Kid's Swag On For School!
Apparel is a fun way to affirm your child's identity as well as teach them the significance behind the words or images they rock on their clothes or accessories.  Growing up, as I  became comfortable identifying with my Afro-Latinx roots,  I intentionally rocked tops, bandanas (It was the 90's y'all!), and buttons on my backpack that screamed, "I'm Proud to Be Puerto Rican!".  Attending a predominantly White high school, this was a daring act, but a necessary one for my personal growth and development.  Wearing my "100% Boricua" t-shirt from my last visit to Puerto Rico may have seemed irrelevant to most, but for me it was powerful. My clothes allowed me to scream self-affirmations in every room I entered without making a peep.  The words and images punched those in the face that dared to tell me I was less than.  

As crazy as it sounds, clothing can serve as an inspiring and empowering tool for our Black and Brown kids. And given the climate we are living in, it is even more vital we intentionally find ways that SCREAM our kids matter! Check out some of my faves I like to fill my kids' drawers with as well as my own!
My Reflection Matters isn't just a brand, it's a STATEMENT!  Pair one of these tees with a book ( Brilliant Black Boy) or doll ( Makedaa Doll) that affirms a child's racial or cultural identity and viola! You have a perfect, inexpensive gift to get some lucky kid started right for the new school year.  As I've mentioned before, I don't make any money off of the newsletters I create, so 100% of all proceeds will go to supporting the development and maintenance of MRM. You can be a part of this growth by making a purchase today! (Sorry, cute bow tie not included.)


Maya Penn is a brilliant, talented, young fashionista who started her own online business as a teen selling her creations! This anime resembling character is only one of her many works of art. Read more about her book later in this newsletter and don't forget to check out her other products at Maya's Ideas.                                                
Because of Them We Can
Because of Them We Can was a campaign started by the amazing photographer, Eunique Jones.  Her initial campaign was to photograph children representing important Black historical figures for each day of Black history month.  This grew much bigger in popularity than she could've ever imagined that she decided not stop after February.  You can now purchase tops, bags, calendars, and other items that carry her campaign's powerful slogan and famous kids photography.  
By Any Means Necessary (B.A.M.N.)  creates conscious, Black affirming apparel for both youth and adults.  Check out their kids selection here for more self-affirming gear.
In my May newsletter, I introduced you all to  Jaden Toussaint --a book about a 5 year-old scientist with a ginormous brain and afro.  If your kids are into this book series, like my sons, you gotta get them some Jaden swag to rock while they are reading about this Black genius!
My cousin, Laurie Centeno Kenny, who is a mother of twin pre-schoolers, came up with the brilliant idea of creating a t-shirt she could have her kids wear each year on their first day of school that would make picture taking and memory building easy.  All you need is one camera, a sharpie, one School Year Tee, a willing model, and 15 photos.  How fantastic would that be to capture your child growing in this shirt from Pre-K all the way to high school graduation? (I think you need to add a college box, Laurie!)
Dope School Supplies
If you are a fan of modern art, like myself, you will appreciate the artistry of  Nancy Coretta Scaife-Mullens from  Napp2Reality Fashion.  Her Afro-feminine centered pieces beautifully make a statement on all the items you buy and wear from her such as tops, bags, mugs, and other accessories.

Because of Them We Can was a campaign started by the amazing photographer, Eunique Jones.  Her initial campaign was to photograph children representing important Black historical figures for each day of Black history month.  This grew much bigger in popularity than she could've ever imagined that she decided not stop after February.  You can now purchase tops, bags, calendars, and other items that carry her campaign's powerful slogan and famous kids photography.  
Looking for a more affordable way to get your child's swag on? No worries. These $8.00 patches from LoveLttrs4Liberation can easily be sewn or glued on a book bag or piece of apparel.  What's even better is that all p rofits will be donated to a group or project each month that is supporting Black Lives Matter and Black liberation movement work.
This school year, replenish your stash of boring coloring books with one that celebrates old school hip-hop. Kids of all ages can enjoy this while learning some hip-hop history. Check out,  Beats, Rhymes, & Bunsen Burners: Using Hip-Hop as Teaching Tool, for ideas on using  hip-hop as an instructional tool.
I'm in love with Innovative Supplies! In the first 24 hours after going public, this much needed Black school supplies company sold out!  Owner, Nneka Brown , not only puts out a product that reflects positive Black identity, but she also invests all profits in a Black owned bank and hires Black and Brown youth in order to provide them the opportunity to develop job skills they are less likely to obtain in traditional teen jobs, such as management and shipping and business roles.  Read more here.
#MRMcontest
Like what you're seeing so far? Keep an eye out in your inbox or on our Facebook page for our August #MRMcontest announcement. We will be giving away TWO Black to School items from this month's newsletter!                                                              
 
Melanated Toys & Animation
I'm super excited to share with you the Melanites toy project started by Jennifer Pierre.  "Melanites is a toy company that combats the societal pressures of hyper-masculinity on [boys of color] by normalizing toy products that celebrate brown boyhood." The toys are currently under production and are still seeking donors to support production costs. You can show your support for this much needed product by donating here.                                                   

MAKEDAA was a strong, powerful beautiful Ethiopian Queen. "In a world where the standard of beauty rarely acknowledge them, little Black girls sometime struggle to buid self-esteem.  In that context,  'MAKEDAA' becomes the symbol of acceptance and positive identification."  These dolls are intentionally designed to carry Black physical  features so that little Black girls can feel validated and loved.   
"Meltrek is an educational hip hop animated series that teaches children authentic African American history from 3000 BCE to 2008."
Curricula Materials
I'm really excited to share with you the  DreamAfrica App!  " DreamAfrica is the only interactive mobile platform for children that contains the largest ever-growing collection of African, Diaspora and multilingual children's content. With a monthly or annual subscription, families across the world have access to culturally relevant and local multicultural stories, books, videos, and music from contemporary African, Diaspora and emerging storytellers, anytime, anywhere." Click  here to learn more about how your school can participate in the DreamAfrica pilot program.  Also, don't forget to take advantage of the FREE 
trial below!

 G et yourself organized for the new school year with this radical planner I discovered  earlier this year when I attended the  New York Collective of Radical Educators  conference. Planner includes: 
  • Weekly planning pages packed with important social justice birthdays and historical events.
  • References to online lesson plans and resources related to those dates.
  • Tips from social justice teachers across the country.
  • Inspirational quotes to share with students.
  • Thought-provoking essential questions to spark classroom discussions on critical issues.
  • Reproducible social justice awards for students.
  • and much more.

In case you missed these dope fIashcards I shared in May, here they are again!  ABC Me  produces flashcards that reflect the cultural images and histories of Black Americans while teaching letter and sound identification.  Watch this video to learn more about the mom behind this creation.


#MRMbookfaves
Parents & Educators
Searching for a book to help inspire you or give you ideas on how to transform your traditional curriculum into one that builds students' political and social consciousness? Or, are you a parent hungry to learn more about good practices surrounding the education of Black and Brown kids?   Jeff Duncan-Andrade  and  Ernest Morrell's The Art of Critical Pedagogy is one of my faves, because I love how the authors tell a detailed story of their personal experiences applying the actual instructional practices they were researching, which is unusual in the world of research. This is a mandatory read for all educators! 
Every Day Anti-Racism was what my former NYU colleagues and I referred to as the "sacred book".  We would regularly refer educators that were in search for a text to help them grapple with issues of race and equity in the classroom to this text.   Everyday Anti-Racism is a collection of essays written by scholars and researchers in the field of social justice, who each offer their experienced insight on how to engage in anti-racist teaching.                           
My new favorite historical text,  The New Jim Crow "describes the militarization of the police, foreshadowing the heavy weaponry used by police in Ferguson" and countless others as we have witnessed on film over the last couple of years. Michelle Alexander does a nice job meticulously outlining the series of historical events that lead to today's mass incarceration of Black and Brown bodies.  
Holiday celebration is a question teachers often ask me about when we have conversations about what it means to be a critically conscious educator. This book contains chapters that include "Developing a Holiday Policy," "Selecting Holidays," "Addressing Stereotypes and Commercialism," and "Evaluating Holiday Activities." Hopefully, this text will be found useful by those of you thinking about how you plan to address celebrations in your classrooms this new school year. 
This guidebook offers parents, students, and educators insight on how to:
  • "Analyze the roots of racism"
  • "Investigate the impact of racism on all our lives, our families, and our communities"
  • "Examine the relationship between racism and other forms of oppression such as sexism, classism, and heterosexism"
  • "Learn to work to dismantle racism in our schools, communities, and the wider society"

Young Readers
Andrew And The Time Machine Closet is a four book series that comes in pre-K-6th grade editions.  The series is about a Black boy named Andrew who time-travels to different centuries meeting new characters. What I love about this book collection is the option to personalize The Warrior Queen/King book with your child's name as the main character! 
Here is another K-2 book series to add to your Jaden Toussaint collection you just started. This easy-to-read series includes discussion questions and a glossary for young readers. Oh, and the main character is a confident, energetic, Latinx boy, which, of course, I like!                                               
 

Sometimes I just want to read to my kids a fun fairytale or fictional story about some crazy kids getting into mischief with a lesson to be learned at the end. Sure these story lines are in abundance at the bookstore, but seeing Brown-skinned characters take on the leading roles in these stories, unfortunately, is not. Mother Hayes Books aims to combat this issue by publishing literature that is entertaining and imaginative and, most importantly, allows our children to see themselves repeatedly represented book after book in her collection. Stay connected with us to learn how you can win a signed copy of one of these gems next month!

Mature Readers
Black Lives Matter aims to inform middle and high schoolers about the brutal shootings of Black men and the historical context surrounding them. If this is not a part of your school or children's library, you need to add it along with great classics like The Autobiography of Malcolm X , Assata An Autobiography, and Guerilla Warfare. For more ideas on building your Black Lives Matter library click here for younger readers and here for teens. 
A Different Mirror tells  history through the lens of the people. "It focuses on the exploitation and racism at the heart of U.S.
history—but also on the solidarity and resilience from which we all can
find hope." Rebecca Steffof has adapted this historical book for young readers in middle and high school.


Maya Penn's, You Got This!, is  a good read for a creative teen or tween you know who can use some inspiration and/or tips on how to think BIG. I like how she shares the way she goal sets and plans including suggestions on how to build positive relationships with people that inspire rather than wear you down. 
Tips & Other Info. For Parents & Professionals
Below is a list of articles MRM has shared on social media that offer insight, tips, and ideas about parenting and teaching from a critically conscious perspective. 

RACE
Many parents and teachers, including myself, have been trying to wrap their brains around when and how to talk to our young people, from toddlers to teens, about the police brutality that we have witnessed play over and over on social media and other news outlets.  When asked, why do we need to talk with our kids about race?, clinical psychologist Dr. Howard Stevenson says: "We tell our kids not to approach strangers promising them candy. That’s a scary situation for a child to imagine. Why do we do it? So children will be prepared for what to do."  Take a look at some of the articles below that speak to this topic.

LGBTQ
When LGBTQ issues are discussed in the media, they are often referring to the White male experience. We must not forget to center the experiences of our Black and Brown LBTQ brothers and sisters.  Here are a few readings to get you informed. 

CRITICAL PEDAGOGY
"IN ORDER TO REACH OUR STUDENTS, WE HAVE TO MEET THEM ON THEIR CULTURAL TURF." — EDMUND ADJAPONG
Get inspired by learning what some critical pedagogues are doing to get students engaged in rigorous and meaningful learning.    
Diversity In Children's Books Goes Deeper Than Race
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