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Civil Rights Legend John Lewis Has Died, Rest in Power, Sir
Just watching the breaking news on TV. Civil rights legend, Democratic Representative John Lewis, 80 years old, has died after a bout with pancreatic cancer. John Lewis was from Georgia and called the “conscience of Congress.” He was one of the organizers of the 1963 March on Washington. He recently participated in a Black Lives Matter protest after the police brutality killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man—-still being a Freedom Fighter until the end. He also made an appearance at the Black Lives Matter street mural in Washington D.C. with Mayor Bowser. In recent months, petitions have circulated to get the Edmund Pettus Bridge changed to be named after him, in his honor. He was beaten during “Bloody Sunday” in March 1965 during the Selma to Montgomery Civil Rights Movement marches.
Free Coronavirus (COVID-19) homeschooling and educational materials for Black parents
I am super excited to announce that I will be launching “Bell Academy,” a free online learning academy with a special focus on Black / African American middle school and high school students in January 2021.
The site is under construction, however, please signup for the email list so that you can receive updates. Send an email to academy@ceciBell.net or a message in my Facebook page‘s “Inbox”.
Here’s the site: http://www.cecibell.net/academy/
Many blessings,
Ceci
The Black Millennial Renaissance Curriculum
Click Here for More About the Black Millennial Renaissance
- To promote positive cultural identity formation in the African American community, with a focus on middle, high school, and college students
- To provide a Black studies curriculum to parents who desire to supplement their child’s grades 6-12 education with cultural awareness
- To provide a Black studies curriculum, aligned with Common Core Standards, to afterschool programs and homeschool parents to enhance and cater their educational programs for African American students
- To provide a Black studies curriculum to middle and high school teachers who desire to incorporate culturally relevant, responsive, and sustaining teaching practices into their classrooms
“On the Come Up” by Angie Thomas
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Part One: Old School
Chapter 1
I am so excited to be reading Angie Thomas’ follow up novel to The Hate U Give. It is so refreshing reading books with characters that look like me and my people. From the opening page, Thomas is drawing me in with details like a teacher who wears her hair in Sisterlocks (Mrs. Murray) and is reading the great poet Nikki Giovanni.
The protagonist is a high school junior named Brianna Jackson (Bri or Breezy). Her father was murdered 12 years ago. Her mother was a recovering drug addict, eight years sober. She lives in Garden Heights like Starr did. Brianna’s dad was a rapper, “Lawless, the underground rap legend” (p. 9)
Book Club Question:
- When Mrs. Murray confronts Brianna after class about her grades slipping, Brianna admits she wants to be a rapper. She proclaims that college is not for everyone despite having aspirations to go to college.
- What do you think? Agree or disagre? Why or why not?
- What are your plans after high school?
Civic Literacy in Black YA Books
Many Black young adult novels have civic literacy themes and messages, including Angie Thomas’ The Hate U Give and Dear Martin by Nic Stone.
“She Said, He Said” by Kwame Alexander
“The Crossover” by Kwame Alexander
“Solo” by Kwame Alexander
“Rebound” by Kwame Alexander
