Resistance Stories from Black History for Kids: Inspiring People and Events That Every Kid Should Know

Endorsements

As someone who values African and African diasporic history, I wholeheartedly endorse Resistance Stories from Black History for Kids by Rann Miller. This book is an essential resource, especially for children at a critical stage in their development. Featuring stories of Black history makers who helped to shape society and culture, it is a powerful introduction to the rich history of African Americans and African people who fought back against oppressive systems. By immersing young minds in this important history at a foundational time, we can help ensure that these inspiring stories will not be forgotten, but rather passed down from generation to generation as part of our shared legacy. Whether you are a parent looking for an inspirational tool for your child or simply someone passionate about preserving African American and African diasporic history, Resistance Stories from Black History for Kids is a must have! — Ivory A. Toldson, Director of Education Innovation and Research, NAACP and professor, Howard University, School of Education

The purest and highest form of the activism we need is to teach Black children well. The inspiring, ancestral stories that Miller has passionately curated allow us to teach Black children their history, culture, and value exceptionally well. As we push towards equity in education, these stories should be integral to the learning journey for every Black student. Black students’ intellectual development, positive racial identity and cultural, emotional, intellectual safety is in jeopardy unless they can see themselves in the classroom, textbooks, and teachers in their schools. For too long, Black students have not had this critical mirror in their education. Miller’s Resistance Stories from Black History for Kids offers another powerful tool to equip every teacher to instill a strong cultural identity, community passion, and love of learning in their students. Black history and culture have deep, deep roots. Miller’s exploration of these roots in Resistance Stories from Black History for Kids pushes us closer to a communal reckoning of the power and influence of the African Diaspora throughout history. With Miller’s work and passion, the stories that define us, yet have been discarded, inch closer and closer to the spotlight. As James Baldwin reminds us, “History is not the past. It is the present. We carry our history with us. We are our history. If we pretend otherwise, we are literally criminals.” Let’s commit to being effective educators, not intellectual criminals. — Sharif El-Mekki, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Center for Black Educator Development