Enlighten Inspire Celebrate Diversity

Here are some choices to help you
enlighten your children,
and celebrate blacks and black history

February is
Black History Month

A full appreciation of the celebration of Black History Month requires a review and a reassessment of the social and academic climate that prevailed in the Western world, and especially in North America before 1926 when Black History Month was established.

It is important to recall that between 1619 and 1926, African Americans and other peoples of African descent were classified as a race that had not made any contribution to human civilization. Within the public and private sector, African Americans and other peoples of African descent were continually dehumanized and relegated to the position of non-citizens and often defined as fractions of humans. It is estimated that between 1890 and 1925, an African American was lynched every two and a half days.

The academic and intellectual community was no different from the bulk of mainstream America. Peoples of African descent were visibly absent in any scholarship or intellectual discourse that dealt with human civilization.

African Americans were so dehumanized and their history so distorted in academia that "slavery, peonage, segretation and lynching" were considered justifiable conditions. In fact, Professor John Burgess, the founder of Columbia University graduate school of Political Science and an important figure in American scholarship defined the African race as "a race of men which has never created any civilization of any kind..."

It was this kind of climate and the sensational, racist scholarship that inspired the talented and brilliant African American scholar, Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson to lead the struggle and search for the truth and institutionalize what was then referred to as "Negro History Week". A Harvard trained Ph.D., Dr. Woodson dropped out of mainstream academia to devote his life to the scientific study of the African experience in America, Africa and throughout the world.

Under Woodson's direction and contributions from other African American and white scholars, the "Negro History Week" was launched on a serious platform in 1926 to neutralize the apparent ignorance and deliberate distortion of Black History. Meetings, exhibitions, lectures and symposia were organized to climax the scientific study of the African experience throughout the year in order to give a more objective and scholarly balance in American and World history.

Today, this national and international observance has been expanded to encompass the entire month of February. The expansion, of course, has increased the number of days for celebration, but its strength and importance lie in the new meaning that has emerged.

From "Ghana Review" Vol 1. No. 6
Friday 27 January 1995
Supplement
Black History Month
read more

Monthly special
15% discount
~~$16.95~~

When Marian Sang
The True Recital of Marian Anderson
Pam Munoz Ryan
Spec Offer Price: $14.49

You and your child will enjoy this introduction to the life of Marian Anderson, extraordinary singer and civil rights activist, who was the first African American to perform at the Metropolitan Opera. Your child will learn about the influence of gospel on her music, and get a history lesson about prejudice at the same time.
Special Price good during Black History Month celebration

Africana:
Henry Louis Gates
$~~29.95~~
Item # AFRICANcon
Our price: $24.95

This concise reference of African and African-American history is a must have for all desiring a comprehensive multicultural library.

Amazing Grace
Mary Hoffman
Item: (hc) AMAZGRpb
~~Price $6.99~~
Our Price $6.29

John Henry
(Lester's folksy retelling of a popular African-American folk ballad)
Julius Lester & Jerry Pinkney
Item (jc) JOHNH7590
~~Price$19.99~~
Our Price $16.99

Dancing in the Wings
Debbie Allen
~~$16.99~~
Item #DANCWG6920 (hc)
Ages: 5 - 8 years
Our price: $15.59

A delightful story of a girl who's determination and belief in her dream make her a success in her field. Children will love this easy-to-read, happy story, and parents will appreciate it's uplifting spirit and support of self-esteem. A must-have for little, would-be dancers.

Galimoto
Karen Lynn Williams
$~~5.99~~ pb
Item #: GALIMO4680
Ages: pre K - 8
Our Price: $5.25

Recycling - imagination making toys from recycled items, Africa, Malawi
ages: preschool - 8 years old
This Reading Rainbow selection is a delight to read aloud to children. The "galimoto" is a push toy made by the little boy in the story using ingenuity and recycled items. I like it because it inspires creativity and as a reminder that we can make our own toys and cherish them as much if not more than ones purchased.

From Slave Ship to Freedom Road
Julius Lester
~~$17.99~~
#FROMSLAV8050 (hc)
ages 10 and up
$15.99

Goin Someplace Special
Julius Lester
~~$16.00~~
#GOINSOME6700
$14.25

"Set in the South in the 1950s, 'Trica Ann is delighted to be able to go "someplace special" all by herself, but when she is faced with signs reading "For Whites Only," she must find the courage inside to continue her journey to the public library, where everyone is welcome. 35,000 first printing."