KRLemmons African American Literature, African American Young Adult Literature, Resources

Happy Birthday, Zora Neale Hurston!!!!

Zora Neale Hurston was born on January 7.  She was a novelist, folklorist, and short story writer, who claimed Eatonville, Florida as her birthplace. Although she is well known for her novel is “Their Eyes Were Watching God”, she has written other works as well, such as “Mule Bone”, “Jonah’s Gourd Vine”, “Moses, Man of the Mountain”, to name a few.

A couple of resources on this influential writer include:  http://zoranealehurston.com, http://www.biography.com/people/zora-neale-hurston-9347659

Every year in Eatonville, Florida, there is a Zora Neale Hurston festival.  Now celebrating its 25 year, this year’s festival is a weeklong celebration featuring celebrities, workshops, special events and more.  For more information, go to http://zorafestival.org

 

KRLemmons African American History, African American Literature, African American Young Adult Literature, Children's literature, Resources

R.I.P. Nelson Mandela (1918-2013)

December 5, 2013, Nelson Mandela joined the ancestors.  He was a tireless leader for human rights and social justice.  He left a legacy, in words and in deeds, for us to emulate.

Some of his books are listed below:

Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela                                                                                                                     How Far From Slaves We Come (co-written with Fidel Castro)                                                         In the Words of Nelson Mandela                                                                                  Conversations with Myself (co-written with Barack Obama)                                         Mandela’s Way (Lessons on Life, Love and Courage) co-written with Richard Stengel) Mandela: An Illustrated Autobiography

Children’s books on Nelson Mandela:                                                                                     Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson                                                                                             Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom by Chris van Wyk, Paddy Bouma

The Library of Congress has digital resources on Nelson Mandela.  Go to loc.gov and search “Nelson Mandela”

President Obama eloqently spoke on the passing of Nelson Mandela.  The link is below: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/12/05/president-obama-delivers-statement-passing-nelson-mandela

KRLemmons African American Literature, African American Young Adult Literature, Resources

Ann Petry and The Street

On this day, Ann Petry was born, and would later write a classic novel, The Street.  This novel explores issues of race, class, gender, motherhood, and more in 1940s Harlem.

A few resources are listed below.

NPR: http://www.npr.org/2008/06/16/91556698/an-unflinching-street-view-of-the-american-dream

PBS: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americannovel/video/ANthestreet.html

Voices From the Gaps: http://voices.cla.umn.edu/artistpages/petryAnn.php

KRLemmons African American History, Lesson Plans, Resources

Fisk Jubilee Singers

According to the Munirah Chronicle,

1871 – The Fisk Jubilee Singers begin their tour to raise money
for the school. Soon they will become one of the most
popular African American folk-singing groups of the late
19th century, performing throughout the U.S. and Europe
and raising large sums for Fisk’s building program.

One children’s book, “A Band of Angels: A Story Inspired by the Jubilee Singers”, written by Deborah Hopkinson, and illustrated by Raul Colon, is a story based on the story of Ella Sheppard Moore, who was the pianist for the group.  This group became famous for singing spirituals.

Some additional resources are:

The American Experience The Jubilee Singers http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/singers/

The Kennedy Center: http://www.kennedy-center.org/explorer/artists/?entity_id=10212&source_type=B

At Fisk University, A Tradition of Spirituals:NPR: http://www.npr.org/2011/02/26/134028602/at-fisk-university-a-tradition-of-spirituals

KRLemmons African American Literature, Resources

Happy Birthday, James Baldwin!

August 2, 1924, James Arthur Baldwin was born.  He becomes one of the most prolific and influential African American writers.  His most notable works are “Go Tell It On The Mountain” and “The Fire Next Time.”  He also published short stories and several essays.  For more information on James Baldwin, check out these resources:

http://www.biography.com/people/james-baldwin-9196635

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/james-baldwin/about-the-author/59/

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129281259

http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/b/baldwin-essays.html

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/aug02.html

 

KRLemmons African American History, Resources

Frederick Douglass July 4th Speech

Frederick Douglass July 4th Speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” is a significant and thought provoking one.  You can read the entire speech by clicking here.

Other resources on this speech are:

The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4h2927.html

Frederick Douglass Online Resources: http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/douglass/

EDSITEment’s 4th of July: Protest, Revolution, and Independence: http://edsitement.neh.gov/feature/edsitements-4th-july-protest-revolution-and-independence

As we celebrate Independence Day, we should pause for a moment and really think about what freedom in the United States means today.  Does freedom really mean we are free?

KRLemmons African American History, Resources

Happy Juneteenth!

June 19th commemorates the emancipation of African American slaves in Texas.  “Although the Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1863, slavery will continue in Texas, until General Gordon Granger arrives in Galveston with Union forces, announcing that all slaves in Texas are free. One third of the people in Texas are slaves. Juneteenth will be celebrated annually with picnics and barbecues at public emancipation grounds, some of which will be used past year 2000. Juneteenth will become a legal Texas state holiday in 1980.” (Munirah Chronicle)

A few books that talk about Juneteenth are:

Weatherford, Carole Boston. Juneteenth jamboree

Ellison, Ralph.  Juneteenth: A Novel

Web resources are:

juneteenth World Wide Celebration: http://www.juneteenth.com/history.htm

Juneteenth Texas State Historical Association: http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/lkj0

Trending Juneteenth Library of Congress blog: http://blogs.loc.gov/loc/2013/06/trending-juneteenth/

Juneteenth Celebration: http://www.americaslibrary.gov/es/tx/es_tx_june_1.html

Celebrate Juneteenth!: http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/calendar-activities/celebrate-juneteenth-20547.html

Celebrate freedom!

KRLemmons African American Literature, Resources

Happy birthday, Ralph Ellison!

Ralph Waldo Ellison, the author of the classic book Invisible Man was born on March 1.  Information on this author can be found by clicking on the following links:

http://loc.gov (Library of Congress. Type Ralph Ellison in the search box and view hundreds of primary resources on this author.)

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/ralph-ellison/an-american-journey/587/

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9977702

KRLemmons African American History, African American Literature, Resources

Happy Birthday, W.E.B. Du Bois and Haki Madhubuti!

February 23 is the birthday of two famous literary people: W.E.B. Du Bois and Haki Madhubuti.

Information about W.E.B. Du Bois is available by clicking on the links below:

http://www.findingdulcinea.com/features/profiles/d/web-du-bois.html

http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/dubois/

http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?subcategory=42

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/172481/W-E-B-Du-Bois

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_people_dubois.html

Information about Haki Madhubuti is available by clicking on the links below:

http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/484

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102593652

http://www.howard.edu/library/reference/guides/madhubuti/default.htm