Children’s Rights Lawyer and Author Visits First Graders
By Ashley Bryant
On Thursday, February 4, 2021, Celestina Lee’s 1st grade wildcats from Garrison Elementary School in Washington, D.C., were paid a very special virtual visit as part of the Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action courtesy of An Open Book Foundation (AOB) which brings authors, illustrators, and their books to D.C. area schools.
Dr. Shani King, a Professor of Law at the University of Florida and children’s book author, joined the elementary school students for a virtual read-aloud of his new book, Have I Ever Told You Black Lives Matter? As a compliment to his first book, Have I Ever Told You?, Dr. King’s newest work shares the names, quotes, and stories of important figures of Black history in the United States.
From Crispus Attucks to Ayanna Pressley, Dr. King’s book illustrates the important message through its colorful pages that Black lives have always mattered and will continue to matter in sports, politics, history, music, and so much more. The two 30-minute sessions allowed Dr. King to share the book with nearly 40 first graders and a handful of teachers and staff.
“You can’t sit around waiting for someone to tell you who you are,” stated Faith Ringgold, one of the artists highlighted in the book’s pages who is famous for her quilts promoting Black integration in the New York art world.
When asked how the book made them feel, one 1st grader said that they felt “brave, powerful, and inspired.”
“I felt happy like I was going to cry,” remarked another.
Lee’s students walked away from the visit with a message of empowerment, that their voices were important and valued.
Heidi Powell, a co-founder of AOB, also joined the call to share the exciting news that each student of Ms. Lee’s class will receive their very own copy of Dr. King’s book.
Dr. Shani King
Ashley Bryant is an intern with Teaching for Change for Winter/Spring 2021. She is currently working at an international education non-profit in DC and is a prospective master’s student in urban and social studies education.