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What We Believe: A Black Lives Matter Principles Activity Book
This powerful activity book will engage hands, hearts, and minds as it introduces children to the guiding principles of the Black Lives Matter movement.
When the Black Lives Matter movement began in 2013, the three founders--Alicia Garza, Patrisse Khan-Cullors, and Opal Tometi--anchored its work in a list of guiding principles, developed through conversation with other activists. These principles commit the movement to empathy, loving engagement, and just action among its participants; affirm the importance of Black women, families, elders, and LGBTQ folk; and celebrate the strength and diversity of Black people in their communities and around the globe.
Now young people can explore these powerful principles in What We Believe: A Black Lives Matter Principles Activity Book. Created by two teachers with more than thirty-five years of educational experience between them, the book presents the guiding principles in down-to-earth, child-friendly language, with each principle accompanied by writing prompts, space for children or adults to create their own reflections, and a coloring page. Supporting materials guide adults in sharing the principles with children and encourage kids to dream big and take action within their communities. An essential resource for anyone discussing racial equity with young people, What We Believe offers a beautiful and inspiring lens on the most important social justice movement of our time.
When the Black Lives Matter movement began in 2013, the three founders--Alicia Garza, Patrisse Khan-Cullors, and Opal Tometi--anchored its work in a list of guiding principles, developed through conversation with other activists. These principles commit the movement to empathy, loving engagement, and just action among its participants; affirm the importance of Black women, families, elders, and LGBTQ folk; and celebrate the strength and diversity of Black people in their communities and around the globe.
Now young people can explore these powerful principles in What We Believe: A Black Lives Matter Principles Activity Book. Created by two teachers with more than thirty-five years of educational experience between them, the book presents the guiding principles in down-to-earth, child-friendly language, with each principle accompanied by writing prompts, space for children or adults to create their own reflections, and a coloring page. Supporting materials guide adults in sharing the principles with children and encourage kids to dream big and take action within their communities. An essential resource for anyone discussing racial equity with young people, What We Believe offers a beautiful and inspiring lens on the most important social justice movement of our time.
- GenresChildrensPicture Books
32 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 4, 2020
Created by two teachers, this activity book covers the 13 guiding principles of Black Lives Matter: Unapologetically Black, Diversity, Empathy, Loving Engagement, Restorative Justice, Black Families, Intergenerational, Black Villages, Black Women, Queer Affirming, Transgender Affirming, Globalism, and Collective Value.
Between a letter from the author to adults who are talking to children about BLM and a letter to kids, in-between are two-page spreads about each guiding principal. Each spread includes a coloring book-type illustration of either current exemplar role models of each principle (ex. Charlene Carruthers, June Jordan, April Gurley, and Jesse Hagopian) or examples that children might see in their lives (ex. a grandmother with her grandson and different examples of family groupings), a definition for the principal, and a writing prompt for the principal with space to draw an image and write a paragraph reflection about the prompt. The book closes with a page of suggestions and activities that children can do to support BLM and a chart with all of the guiding principles of BLM with the statement explaining its meaning (adapted by the BLM at the NYC Schools Steering Committee).
This will be useful for schools looking for curriculum materials when talking about BLM.
Note: Lee and Low Books will donate a portion of its proceeds from the first printing of this book to the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, Inc.
Recommended for grades K-5.
Between a letter from the author to adults who are talking to children about BLM and a letter to kids, in-between are two-page spreads about each guiding principal. Each spread includes a coloring book-type illustration of either current exemplar role models of each principle (ex. Charlene Carruthers, June Jordan, April Gurley, and Jesse Hagopian) or examples that children might see in their lives (ex. a grandmother with her grandson and different examples of family groupings), a definition for the principal, and a writing prompt for the principal with space to draw an image and write a paragraph reflection about the prompt. The book closes with a page of suggestions and activities that children can do to support BLM and a chart with all of the guiding principles of BLM with the statement explaining its meaning (adapted by the BLM at the NYC Schools Steering Committee).
This will be useful for schools looking for curriculum materials when talking about BLM.
Note: Lee and Low Books will donate a portion of its proceeds from the first printing of this book to the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, Inc.
Recommended for grades K-5.
November 28, 2020
Thoughtful activity book for youth/children to understand BLM principles and write, draw, and explore their own power to change behaviors and systems that harm others. Great tool. #buythebook #jozefbookandbrew
Want to Read
March 26, 2021Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
April 18, 2021
When I was a kid activity books didn’t really help us learn anything. They were a fun distraction where we could draw pictures and find our way through mazes. This kind of book is awesome in that it supports teaching kids really big ideas. As the intro states, it’s probably not best as a standalone book, but to be used in conjunction with other discussion and lessons.
I’m guessing some people, when they get to the transgender page, wonder how appropriate that is; is the kid too young for this? But read what is at the top of the activity page: How do you feel when someone tells you what “girls should do” or “what boys should do”? How do you think people got those ideas? I wish someone would have had that conversation with me when I was a kid.
I’m guessing some people, when they get to the transgender page, wonder how appropriate that is; is the kid too young for this? But read what is at the top of the activity page: How do you feel when someone tells you what “girls should do” or “what boys should do”? How do you think people got those ideas? I wish someone would have had that conversation with me when I was a kid.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews