Black Lives Matter: Resources to support the conversation

In response to racial injustice, and inspired by the Black Lives Matter Movement, TeachingBooks supports conversations on racism and anti-racism, discrimination, inequality, privilege, and social justice. We acknowledge the generational resilience and contributions of African Americans in our society. As part of our ongoing commitment to offering learning opportunities, we are sharing this list of resources and tools for educators, students, parents and community to discuss and explore these topics.

Conversations, Podcasts, Articles

Resources to encourage reflection, listening, and learning

• Kidlit Rally for Black Lives: Watch this online rally from Thursday, June 4, hosted by The Brown Bookshelf and organized by award-winning author Kwame Alexander.
  • List of participating authors on TeachingBooks
• The Kojo Nnamdi show: Jason Reynolds talks about racism and the current protests.
• Dr. Ibram X. Kendi: Ibram X. Kendi is one of America’s foremost historians and leading antiracist voices.
  • See in particular resources for Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, co-authored by Jason Reynolds
• NPR: Talking Race with Young Children: A special podcast in collaboration with Sesame Street Workshop.
• Dr. Lynnette Mawhinney on Discussing Race in the Classroom: Lynnette Mawhinney offers insights from her experience as an author and classroom teacher.
• Liz Kleinrock on talking about race in the classroom: A TED Talk by fourth-grade teacher Liz Kleinrock.
• Resources for race, equity, anti-racism, and inclusion: This post from We Need Diverse Books includes relevant organizations, Black-owned bookstores, and further reading.

Relevant Booklists

Booklists with instructional connections from TeachingBooks

• #BlackLivesMatter Reads for Kids
• #BlackLivesMatter Reads for Teens
• Books To Teach White Children And Teens How To Undo Racism And White Supremacy
• Children’s Books to Support Conversations on Race, Racism and Resistance
• Social Justice: Titles to Address Inequity, Equality, and Organizing for Young Readers
• Talking to Kids About Racism and Justice

Organization Websites

Organizations committed to promoting diverse and underrepresented voices through literature and educational connections

• The Brown Bookshelf: The Brown Bookshelf is designed to push awareness of the myriad Black voices writing for young readers. Their flagship initiative is 28 Days Later, a month-long showcase of the best in Picture Books, Middle Grade, and Young Adult novels written and illustrated by Black creators.
• The Coretta Scott King Book Awards: For more than 50 years, the Coretta Scott King Book Awards have recognized the best books that appreciate African American culture and universal human values. It has also affirmed the beauty and complexities of the Black experience in children’s literature, and celebrated the distinguished work of its winning African American authors and illustrators.
  • See resources for the Coretta Scott King Book Awards on TeachingBooks
• We Need Diverse Books: We Need Diverse Books™ (WNDB) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and a grassroots organization of children’s book lovers that advocates essential changes in the publishing industry to produce and promote literature that reflects and honors the lives of all young people.
• Teaching Tolerance: These resources can help facilitate discussions about race and guide students through lessons on white privilege, economic inequality, mass incarceration, the complexities of identity, and more.
• TeachingForChange: Teaching for Change provides teachers and parents with the tools to create schools where students learn to read, write, and change the world. By drawing direct connections to real world issues, Teaching for Change encourages teachers and students to question and re-think the world inside and outside their classrooms, build a more equitable, multicultural society, and become active global citizens.
• Responsive Reads: This site highlights culturally authentic texts and provides discussion guides appropriate for teachers and families.
  • See in particular their guide for All American Boys.
• The Conscious Kid: The Conscious Kid is an education, research and policy organization dedicated to reducing bias and promoting positive identity development in youth via access to children’s books centering underrepresented and oppressed groups.

Additionally, TeachingBooks has put together a set of specific resources about books and authors to encourage reflection and engagement around these pertinent topics of today. This page is designed as a “cut & paste” to make it easy to forward the resources to students, families, and colleagues.