What We Believe: A Black Lives Matter Principles Activity Book

by Laleña Garcia, Caryn Davidson (Illustrator)

Overview

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.

For a full-color, hardcover version of the same material, please watch for How We Can Live: Principles of Black Lives Matter in spring 2022.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781643794778
Publisher:	Lee & Low Books
Publication date:	10/27/2020
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	464,309
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	4 - 10 Years

About the Author

Laleña Garcia has been teaching children in New York City since 2000, and educators across the country since 2017. How We Can Live grew out of her work with Black Lives Matter at School, a coalition of educators and parents striving for racial justice in education. A graduate of Yale University and Bank Street College of Education, she lives in Brooklyn. Please visit her website at rootedkids.org and follow her on Instagram at @blm_in_kindergarten.

Caryn Davidson studied Anthropology and Visual Art at Brown University and received her MA in arts education from NYU. Since the start of her career in education in 2004, she founded and developed the arts programs at three public schools in New York City and also led initiatives to promote culturally relevant pedagogy and socially just practices within those school communities. She now teaches art at the high school level in Brooklyn, NY, where she also lives. You can find her on the web at caryndavidson.com and on Instagram at @caryn_arts.

Editorial Reviews

"Building the world that our young children deserve—a world that reflects the truth that Black lives matter—is possible, and this book is a roadmap! Laleña Garcia has used her expertise as an early childhood educator to translate the principles of the movement for Black lives into language that is accessible to all of us. Quite frankly, this book is Black history." — Megan Madison, co-author of Our Skin: A First Conversation about Race

"What We Believe is simply beautiful. Garcia and Davidson have created a visual, loving example of freedom and the possibilities of using art to create a new world. Each image is drawn with so much love, care, and commitment to the principles of Black Lives Matter, while Garcia's words are inviting, informative, and truth telling. Well done!" — Bettina Love, author of We Want To Do More Than Survive: Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom

"What We Believe: A Black Lives Matter Principles Activity Book is a fabulous way for educators, parents, and children to live the principles of the movement. Often, it's hard to understand how the principles impact our everyday lives, but this thoughtful book outlines the many parts of Black Lives Matter and invites conversations and actions that children and their grownups can undertake together. After working through the text, which connects history to the present moment through an inclusive range of activists, organizers, and everyday folx, readers will understand the movement beyond the slogan and will be prepared to make changes wherever they are, in whatever way they can, for us all to get free." — Dr. Kim Parker, Shady Hill School and #DisruptTexts co-founder

"What We Believe: A Black Lives Matter Principles Activity Book is one of the best tools available to engage students in the Black Lives Matter at School movement! The stunning artwork coupled with insightful connections between students' intersectional identities and the principles of the BLM Global Network make this book essential for every educator." — Jesse Hagopian, Ethnic Studies teacher and co-editor of Teaching for Black Lives

"I can't wait to see how children fill these pages with ideas, color, stories, and freedom dreams. Those who recognize the uniquely powerful role that young children play in the movement for Black Lives will treasure this rare resource." — Carla Shalaby, co-editor of Planning to Change the World: A Plan Book for Social Justice Educators

"This book is perfect for anyone who wants to take young children seriously as actors in the world. It is both informative and open to the creativity and imagination required to lead us forward." — Thomas Nikundiwe, director of the Education for Liberation Network

From the Publisher