February is Black History Month and Dr. Mark Lineburg, Superintendent of Halifax County Public Schools, has shared some of his suggestions for good reads for Black History Month...
● Roots by Alex Haley - My mother put this book in my hands in the early 1980s. I still keep the copy she gave me on my bookshelf. The book is an epic story of Kunta Kinte as he was captured and sold into slavery. The story shares the importance of family history as well as the gross injustices of slavery. It is a great read for high school students.
● I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou - The autobiography is a stunning tale of the challenges of a young black girl growing up in America. Angelou shares her love of reading while sharing how she overcame the difficulties of her life including discrimination. It is perfect for high school students.
● The Crossover by Kwame Alexander - This is my favorite book I have ever shared with students in a reading group. The book is a sequential poem about twin brothers who share a love of basketball. Some of the poetry reads like a modern rap song, and other parts of the book share the true love of brothers and family. The surprising ending of the book left me bereft and wanting to find out what happens next. If you ever played basketball with your brother, then read this book. Students from 4th grade through high school will enjoy this book. Girls enjoy the book as much as boys.
● Rebound by Kwame Alexander - Prequel to Crossover. This book is absolutely fabulous for children and adults. I like it better than Crossover. The book has it all poetry, rap, comic illustrations, love, loss, perseverance, basketball. It will bring you to tears. Fabulous!
● Solo and Booked by Kwame Alexander - Written in verse. He makes haiku cool with his book Solo. Book takes you through a history of rock and R&B and concludes with a trip to Ghana. Great story, not as good as the Crossover or Rebound but still very good. Booked is in the same genre as the other sports book, but the story revolves around soccer.
● Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds - Written in free verse. Every word is important, and the book takes you right into the hood. The intensity of just minutes in an elevator and the pressure of unwritten but unbreakable rules of black boys who are caught in a life that few understand. Fantastic read for middle school boys. Two of his other outstanding books are Ghost and All-American Boys, both of which explore middle school children who overcome.
● Ghost By Jason Reynolds – Outstanding read for grades 5-8. Book that brings track to life. Young Ghost comes from the toughest apartments, discovers he can run like the wind, but faces the challenges of urban poverty along with a single mother. When Ghost steals a pair of running shoes to fit in, the journey begins. A scene at a Chinese restaurant is incredibly poignant.
● Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper - This book is in a similar genre to Wonder except perhaps more real. The main character Melody is a non-verbal paralyzed genius who is trapped in her body by the brutal infliction of cerebral palsy. The book teaches empathy and awareness like no other book I have ever read. I promise that you will find yourself cheering for the amazing Melody. If you have an interest in understanding the minds of special needs children, then read Out of my Mind. Students from the fourth grade through high school will enjoy this book.
● Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson - One of my favorite people was a cafeteria manager Eva Pollard. Eva is like Jacqueline Woodson in that both overcome much to lead a successful life of giving back. This story takes you through both the South and New York City in the 1960s and demonstrates how there was vicious racism in both parts of the country. It is a great read for middle and high school students.
● Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson - Without question one of the great books I have ever read. The gist of the book is Stevenson’s advocacy against capital punishment. However, Stevenson digs in deeper and shares the importance of mercy for all people. In Just Mercy, he emphasizes the brokenness of all humans while sharing that someone who steals is more than just a thief and someone who kills is more than just a murderer. In essence, he shares with the reader that there is always a story and that even in the most challenging circumstances, there is a need for mercy. It is perfect for high school students and for educators interested in exploring the other side of a story.
● The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Hinton - The sequel to Just Mercy. As profound as any book I have ever read. Book teaches grace and mercy through the lens of a man who was wrongly condemned to the electric chair. Book explores social justice and humanity. When the entire cell block chants Hin-Ton at the end of the book, tears will hit the page.
● Between the World and Me by Te-Neshi Coates - Coates is a master of the English language, and the book is brilliantly written. The tale is in the form of a letter to his son. If you want to understand the challenges of being black or a black man, this book articulates it better than ever. It is a no-holds-barred examination of race in our society ranging from American history to the current discussion of police and black men in our country. As a white man, it gives perspective by clearly showing the other side of the American story. Perhaps the most authentic book I have read. It is a great book for high school students and particularly riveting for anyone interested in issues of social justice.
● I Have a Dream - I have a dream, in my opinion, is the greatest piece of American Literature ever written. It is a requiem of reconciliation.
● Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America by Michael Eric Dyson - Pain drips on each page. Painful to read especially as a white man.
● Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon - My daughter and I read this book together when she was going into the 8th grade. This book is perfect for middle school students. Book takes you through the complexities of love between mother and daughter and the pain of loss. It is a riveting story that takes you all the way to Hawaii.
● Letter from a Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King - I like it better than I Have A Dream. The letter is to his clergy colleagues telling them that it is urgent to act and the mission for equality cannot be delayed. Letter is a call for peaceful but urgent action. Letters from a Birmingham Jail makes me wonder, How is a black man supposed to protest?
● Other outstanding books or works I have read by African American authors include: Poems written by Langston Hughes; favorite is Harlem (A Dream Deferred)and Maya Angelou (favorite is Still I Rise), Beloved by Toni Morrison, Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America by Michael Eric Dyson.
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