Three Black Women of Literacy ▬ Barbara Bush Foundation ▬ #InternationalWomensDay

Three Black Women of Literacy  #InternationalWomensDay

Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy

 Harriet A. Jacobs  ▬ Susie King Taylor ▬ Septima Poinsette Clark

This unit focuses on three Black women of literacy — Harriet A. Jacobs, Susie King Taylor, and Septima Poinsette Clark — who were inducted posthumously into the Reading Hall of Fame in 2020. All three contributed to the quest of literacy for African Americans, specifically in the area of adult literacy. All three women had their own personal literacy journey and went on to teach other freed slaves and Black people to read and write. Their stories illustrate a collective effort to bring equity and dignity to those they served and highlight the impact they had on Civil Rights.

In the unit, learners explore questions around one’s actions, legacy, and contribution to our world. They engage in readings, view media, and write reflections about the women and topics introduced, applying their newly gained knowledge to their own lives and literacy journey. Lessons were crafted to allow for learner voice and choice, and educators are encouraged to support learner participation in the development of activities. Because the lives of the women focused on literacy instruction, learning activities were specifically crafted to focus on the development and practice of reading strategies and written reflection.

Tools for Today's Teachers

Today, many educators are re-examining their everyday teaching practices to ensure that all learners are taught from an anti-racist/anti-bias perspective. In support of these efforts, the Barbara Bush Foundation has created and curated a collection of educational resources for classroom use.

We are proud to continue working for equity in literacy, inspired by the belief of our founder that, “If we don’t give everyone the ability to simply read and write, then we aren’t giving everyone an equal chance to succeed.”  READ MORE ➤➤

 

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 13

Reading Level: difficult to read.

Reader's Age: 18-19 yrs. old

(college level entry)

 

Carla Hayden Thinks Libraries Are a Key to Freedom via NY Times

Carla Hayden Thinks Libraries Are a Key to Freedom

NY Times Magazine: 1.19.2017 by Ana Marie Cox

Most librarians of Congress haven’t actually previously been librarians. What’s the best preparation for this role?

@LibnOfCongress

There have been two other librarians of the 14 total — we’ve had historians, we’ve had lawyers — but the main theme has been an interest in ideas and knowledge and a belief in that. That’s what prepares you — to have an open mind, to want to expand other people’s interest in history and knowledge. Each librarian has been almost perfect for the time that they served. I just hope that I can keep that momentum going.

Well, it’s funny that you mention that each librarian appointed seems to have turned out, in retrospect, perfect for the time, because you’re a very particular librarian. You’re the first woman and the first African-American named to the role, and some people have called you a radical librarian.

We librarians love that. That’s against our stereotype.

Maybe I’m a romantic, but I do think of librarians as inherently radical. There’s something political about access to information.

And it has been throughout history. Frederick Douglass said, “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” If you can absorb information yourself and make your own decisions, that’s a freedom. And for so many times in history, being able to read and access information has been part of it, especially in my case, with African-Americans.  READ MORE @

White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans :: NBC News

@AfAmEducation

Get LIT(erature): Supporting a Lifelong Love of Reading

NBC News: 8.13.2016 by David Johns  and Andrene Jones-Castro

Growing up as a little Black boy in Inglewood, California, books provided me with opportunities to escape the jungle I called home.

I encountered new places and characters in the pages of my favorite novels, which were quite different from my childhood neighborhood. Literacy helped me find words to express my feelings, birth new ideas, and make sense of the loneliness and isolation that comes with being the only black boy in a classroom.

I saw myself in characters like Richard Wright's "Bigger Thomas" or in the young James Baldwin struggling to find self in the pages of "The Fire Next Time." I became acquainted with places I longed to explore. Developing a love of reading was much more than learning ABCs and sounding out words. Reading affirmed certain aspects my identity and equipped me with tools for success.

My journey is not unique. Many African Americans share their love of reading in their lives—both personally and professionally. For African American families, creating and supporting children's lifelong love of reading has lasting impacts.

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To maximize literacy development and in support of multiple forms of literacy for Black children in the 21st century, The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans supports The U.S. Department of Education's efforts to encourage everyone to #ReadWhereYouAre.  READ MORE @

David J. Johns is the executive director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans.

Andrene Jones-Castro is a graduate intern at the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans and is a doctoral student studying education policy at the University of Texas at Austin.