Looking for a book to add to your middle school curriculum that will spark meaningful conversation about racism, especially in schools and sports? Black Brother, Black Brother, by Jewell Parker Rhodes, could be it.
Read it with…
Jerry Craft’s New Kid to compare microagressions and overt racism, and open readers’ eyes to look more critically at their own behaviors.
Bryan Stevenson’s Just Mercy Adapted for Young Adults, to discuss systemic issues within our criminal justice system, and how that impacts kids learning about the world.
Sharon Draper’s Blended to compare multiple perspectives on navigating a racist society, and a school system rooted in white supremacy, as a mixed-race child.
Jason Reynolds’ and Brendan Kiley’s All American Boys, to consider how skin color and socialization can lead two people to see the same event very differently.
Alicia D. Williams’ Genesis Begins Again, to spark a conversation about colorism, stereotype threat, and possible mental health impacts of internalizing negative messaging about your skin.
Varian Johnson’s The Parker Inheritance, to explore the history of “passing”, the paper bag test, the one drop rule, and myriad other historical (and modern) acts of violence towards people with black and brown skin.
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