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From February 5–9, 2024, educators and community allies will participate in the Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action.
This week of action is part of the Black Lives Matter at School Year of Purpose campaign to promote a set of national demands based in the Black Lives Matter 13 Guiding Principles that focus on liberation and racial justice in education for Black youth, educators, and all youth of color.
At Social Justice Books, you’ll find a growing list of recommended titles that center each of the Black Lives Matter 13 Guiding Principles, as well as additional recommended booklists.
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Black Lives Matter at School | |
Black Lives Matter at School Booklists | |
Collective Value Booklist | |
The featured theme of this year's Week of Action is the guiding principle of Collective Value, which states: | |
We are guided by the fact that all Black lives, regardless of sex assigned at birth, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, economic status, ability, disability, education, location, age, immigration status, religious beliefs or disbeliefs, matter. None of us are free until we are all free. | | | |
Sebastian's Family Apartment | |
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Reviewed by Makai Kellogg
Sebastian’s Apartment Family was written by three mothers in a Shout Mouse Press workshop. They open the book with a dedication: “We wrote this book for the villages that help to raise our children.” This colorful and engaging book centers collective caregiving.
In the book, Mommy is a student and her son, Sebastian, spends time with their neighbors throughout the week while she is in school.
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Reviewed by Makai Kellogg
This beautiful book is an anthem for mamas and their children. Part of the Shout Mouse Mini Mirrors series for toddlers, it is appropriate for children from infancy to full fledged readers. The illustrations are inclusive of body types, racial identity, vocations, and leisure activities.
Each page highlights a mama who inspires their child(ren) to engage in similar activities in their own context. For example, while Tattoo Mama is designing, her child is drawing just like her.
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Rethinking Multicultural Education | |
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From book bans, to teacher firings, to racist content standards, the politics of teaching race and culture in schools have shifted dramatically in recent years.
This 3rd edition of Rethinking Multicultural Education, edited by Wayne Au, has been greatly revised and expanded to reflect these changing times.
Sections have been added on “Intersectional Identities,” “Anti-Racist Teaching Across the Curriculum,” “Teaching for Black Lives,” and “K–12 Ethnic Studies,” among others.
Order a copy for your school library, teacher education program, a gift for friends and colleagues, and/or for yourself.
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Focus on School Boards
In this election year, don't let the book banners control your local school board. Attend meetings, testify, vote (list of 2024 school board elections), and/or run for office. There is power in numbers. Let your school board know that the majority of community members defend the freedom to learn.
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Share the Social Justice Books list of recommended banned books that address social issues and represent the diversity of the United States. Given the crises in the world today with voting rights, public health, the climate, and more — literature should inform and inspire young people to shape a more just future. | |
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Wear Teach Banned Books Buttons | |
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Wear Teach Banned Books buttons — and share them with your friends — to prompt conversations about the need to actively oppose book bans, teach truthfully, and defend LGBTQ+ rights.
Your donation supports the Zinn Education Project's efforts to provide free people’s history lessons to teach outside the textbook. The buttons are 1.5″ round with a matte finish.
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D.C. Symposium and Exhibition | |
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African Americans and Children's Literature
A Historical Examination of the Role of D.C. Writers
| March 2, 2024, at Trinity Washington University | Teaching for Change is partnering on this in-person event on Washington, D.C.’s African American authors of children’s literature past and present, including Gwendolyn Brooks, Lucille Clifton, Eloise Greenfield, Jason Reynolds, Kwame Alexander, and many more. | |
Teaching for Change staff and board encourage everyone to support indie bookstores and public libraries. | Most of the titles at Social Justice Books are linked to Bookshop.org, an indie bookstore platform. When you find a book there, please purchase from the link we provide. A small percentage from sales through these links goes to Teaching for Change to sustain Social Justice Books selection, reviews, outreach, and more. | |
Make a gift or create your own fundraiser to support Teaching for Change. | | |
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Teaching for Change
PO Box 73038
Washington, DC 20056
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