Teaching Children Tolerance and Social Justice through American History Using Books, Songs, Videos and Websites

Often social justice is limited to the study of one person, movement or people. Too often children are exposed to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. or a few Black inventors during February as their full social justice curriculum. According to John Dewey, also known as the father of modern education, the major aim of education is socialization of students into a democratic society. As such, it is vital that students be introduced to issues of social justice. But just how does a teacher do that in the face of high stakes testing where social justice gets pushed to the side? How can a parent bring up these meaningful conversations? Books, songs, websites and videos can be a wonderful resource. These tools can be intergraded into many different studies. Studying Japan? A read aloud on Japanese internment camps could be quite appropriate. Studying historical fiction? “The Watsons Go to Birmingham” would be a well written choice that brings into question issues of fairness in the Jim Crow south.

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The idea of this collection is for immediate or future use for any teacher or parent wanting to educate children on issues of social justice in American history. These resources can be used individually or as part of a unit or study. Feel free to share this collection with other teachers or parents wanting to start related conversations with their students or children.

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Only the Names Remain by Alex Bealer-This descriptive chapter book chronicles the struggles of the Cherokee Indians during the Trail of Tears. Between 1837 and 1838 they were exiled from their homes in Georgia and relocated to Arkansas. The author brings to life the challenges the people faced including the rigid cold and hunger. A great read aloud second graders and an independent or literature circle option for grades 3 and above.

Jingle Dancer by Cynthia Leitich Smith-This is a sweet contemporary picture book about a Muscogee girl preparing a traditional dance for her community. This offers a rare look into the present-day lives of Native American children as their families seek to pass down traditions. This would be appropriate for children 4 years-old and older.

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Native American culture is full of wonderful chants, rhythms and dances. These CDs are sure to bring the life, music and culture of Native Americans to life. Children can enjoy this during work period, around the house or even during dramatic play sessions.

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Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine-This is a delightful picture book with artwork by Kadir Nelson. The book tells the story of a named Henry that realizes he does not know his birthday. As he grows up and encounters heartbreaks such as having his family sold off, he dreams of the ultimate birthday: a day of freedom. This true story involves Henry mailing himself to freedom.

American Girl: Meet Addy (and others) by Connie Porter-I would have never guessed that the American Girl Brand would write such a beautiful and touching series! The story of Addy Walker was brought in to a Kindergarten class by a student when I was an assistant teacher. I wondered if the teacher dare read it and if so, how the students would receive it. To my surprise the students listened intently and even sought out other books in the series. The completely fell in love with the character Addy! As a read aloud, the entire series is captivating and raises all kinds of questions for children. I found this series provided good background knowledge for the Civil Rights Movement which is usually discussed in most classes during Dr. King’s birthday.

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"Hambone"-Hambone is a rhyme, song and a game. Many versions are available online and in books.

"Wade in the Water"-This is one of the best known Negro spirituals that survived slavery. The song itself was suspected of being used during the Underground Railroad. Many versions of this song can be easily located online or in stores. Ella Jenkins, a children’s folk singer, has a beautiful version.

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Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki-This poignant story is about a boy and his father building a baseball diamond in their internment camp. Through baseball they are able to bring together the frightened and fragmented community. With both serious and light moments, this story functions well as a read aloud for children in grades first through third.

The Invisible Thread: An Autobiography by Yoshiko Uchido-A personal account of a young Japanese American girl growing up in California during WWII. As she experiences the fear, shame and anger of being relocated to an internment camp, students are sure to get a glimpse of this period of history. Yoshiko grows up to be an author of many books and this was her personal journal. What a treasure!

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Songs from this period have not been chronicled on CD or book. It does seem to have an oral history that I hope will be recorded soon. I was excited to find a song entitled “Kenji” has been written and performed to honor those Americans displaced in internment camps.

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Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez by Kathleen Krull- This well-illustrated picture book depicts the life and times of Cesar Chavez. From his childhood full of teasing and hard work to his triumphant leadership of the Migrant Workers Union, this book gives a full picture of a true hero. This is an appropriate read aloud for first graders and an independent or literature circle read for older children.

Rosa Takes a Chance: Mexican Immigrants in the Dust Bowl Years by Susan Martins Miller- This is a wonderful chapter book about migrant workers during the mid-1930s. Written from the point of view Rosa, a young girl, children will sympathize and root for this young heroine. This would be a read aloud for second and third graders or an independent or literature circle read for older children.

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The Chicano movement was full of folk music. I was delighted to find some of this music compiled on CDs. Rich with instrumentation as well as beautiful voices, this music is sure to bring to life the experiences of Mexican Americans.

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A Dream of Freedom by Diane Wharton- How often do children get a taste of Pultizer Prize-winning authors? Diane Wharton takes kids on a journey through the Civil Rights Movement using photography and narration. She focuses on major events between 1954 and 1968 including Brown versus the Board of Education and the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Whether used as a read aloud for second or third graders or an independent read for older students, this book is sure to be an excellent resource for any classroom or home.

The Watsons Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis-I fell in love with this novel while reading it aloud to a third grade class. This is the story of Kenny, a 9-year old boy, and his eventful road trip to Birmingham in 1963. Issues of race and fairness become real and compelling as students feel connected to both Kenny and his family. This would be a strong read aloud for third or fourth grade class or an independent or literature circle read for older students.

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“If You Miss Me at the Back of the Bus”-This was sung during Civil Rights protests and has become a classic. Pete Seeger released an album entitled “Peete Seeger for Kids and Just Plain Folks” with an upbeat version of this song. I was delighted to discover this song has been passed down as community songs in some progressive schools.

“Lift Every Voice and Sing”-The Black national anthem has a history that predates the Civil Rights Movement. Many renditions of this song can be found. Studying the lyrics in verse is a great way to show children the motives and ideas embodied in the Civil Rights Movement.

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