In this section of the Black Language Homework, we present BLACK LANGUAGE IN CHILDREN'S & YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE. We highlight books and stories (and ways to teach with them) that center powerful examples of young Black people and their inventive approaches to Black Language as an asset to their literacy, learning, and life.
The above picture is of Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop in her home's library. Dr. Bishop is a straight up OG in the field of children's literature and we honor her because her work has transformed the field by examining representation and authenticity in children's literature. As curators of the #BlackLangaugeSyllabus, we want to add to that transformation. In this section, we provide you with 10 Black YA books and 10 Black children's books that represent BL in such an authentic way.
Black Young Adult (YA) LiteratureBlack young adult literature is power.
Here, Black young adult literature is defined as literature with Black main characters written by Black authors with the primary audience being Black people, ranging from the age of 13-19 years old. Black young adult literature speaks to the various life experiences of being a Black youth. Sometimes these experiences focus on love, loss, heartbreak, betrayal, connection, friendship, etc. Mannnnn, Black YA Literature is so dope because it has the ability to capture the many ways that Black youth be movin in this world, and it captures the various messages of what it means to be Black and young. In this gallery, 10 Black YA literature books are featured not only because of how bomb they are, but also because of their attention to Black Language. We wanted to feature books that highlighted the connection between Black Language and Black identity. |
The Black YA literature booklist:
1. Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams 2. The Coldest Winter by Sister Souljah 3. True to the Game by Terri Woods 4. Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds 5. Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam (of the Exonerated Five) 6. Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany Jackson 7. And Then He Shot His Cousin by Jeremiah Cobra 8. Flyy Girl by Omar Tree 9. On The Come Up by Angie Thomas 10. The Cartel Series (Books 1-3) by Ashley&JaQuavis |
A message from Angie Thomas, one of the featured authors:
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"I feel as if I would be doing my readers a big disservice if I didn't address the fact that so often young people are criticized and policed for HOW they speak... we so often tell young people how they should speak instead of listening to what they have to say."
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Black Children's LiteratureBlack children's literature is power.
Here, Black children's literature is defined as literature with Black main characters written by Black authors with the primary audience being Black children. Black children's literature is an expansive field. The focus here, will be Black picture books, which is a genre of Black children's literature, "in which pictures and written text are interdependent; the two art forms working together tell a story or relate the content. [...] picture books are most often aimed at young children, but many picture books are appropriate for older readers, some for all ages." (Bishop, 2007, p. 115) In this gallery, 10 Black children's books are featured not only because of how bomb they are, but also because of their attention to Black Language. We wanted to feature books that highlighted the connection between Black Language and Black identity. |
The Black children's literature booklist:
1. Stitchin' and Pullin' by Patricia C. McKissack 2. All Because You Matter by Tami Charles 3. The Barber's Cutting Edge by Gwendolyn Battle-Lavert 4. She Come Bringing Me That Little Baby Girl by Eloise Greenfield 5. Honey Baby Sugar Child by Alice Faye Duncan 6. The Roots of Rap by Carole Boston Weatherford 7. The Boy Who Didn't Believe in Spring by Lucille Clifton 8. Bedtime Bonnet by Nancy Redd 9. I Can Write the World by Joshunda Sanders 10. Flossie and the Fox by Patricia McKissack |
A message from Patricia McKissack, one of the featured authors:
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"The reason I wrote Flossie, Mirandy, and Nettie Jo is that I wanted black kids to see a book with a picture of a beautiful black child on it—be it male or female—and say, “Oh, there’s me in a book.” And feel good about it." (Bishop, 1992, p.72)
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References:
BISHOP, R., & McKissack, P. (1992). Profile: A Conversation with Patricia McKissack. Language Arts, 69(1), 69-74. Retrieved October 30, 2020, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/41411562
Bishop, R. S. (2007). Free within ourselves: The development of African American children's literature. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press.
BISHOP, R., & McKissack, P. (1992). Profile: A Conversation with Patricia McKissack. Language Arts, 69(1), 69-74. Retrieved October 30, 2020, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/41411562
Bishop, R. S. (2007). Free within ourselves: The development of African American children's literature. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press.
Resources:
1. Baker-Bell, A. (2017). “I can switch my language, but I can’t switch my skin”: What teachers must understand about linguistic racism. In E.Moore, Jr., A. Michael, & M. W. Penick-Parks (Eds.), The Guide for White Women Who Teach Black boys (pp. 97–107). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
2. Sims Bishop, R. (2015, January 3). Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors. Retrieved 2020, from https://scenicregional.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Mirrors-Windows-and-Sliding-Glass-Doors.pdf
3. Brooks, W., & McNair, J. (2015). Expanding the canon: Classic african american young adult literature. The ALAN Review, 42(2), 15-23. doi:10.21061/alan.v42i2.aJohnson, D. (2009). African american women writers of children’s and young adult literature. (pp. 210-223). Cambridge: Cambridge
4. Kaaba V., (2020) “Hearing Blackness: African-American Vernacular English in Children's Audiobook Literature Narration Performances”, Iowa State Conference on Race and Ethnicity21(1).
5. McNair, J. C. (2010). Classic African American children’s literature. The Reading Teacher, 64, 96–105.
1. Baker-Bell, A. (2017). “I can switch my language, but I can’t switch my skin”: What teachers must understand about linguistic racism. In E.Moore, Jr., A. Michael, & M. W. Penick-Parks (Eds.), The Guide for White Women Who Teach Black boys (pp. 97–107). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
2. Sims Bishop, R. (2015, January 3). Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors. Retrieved 2020, from https://scenicregional.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Mirrors-Windows-and-Sliding-Glass-Doors.pdf
3. Brooks, W., & McNair, J. (2015). Expanding the canon: Classic african american young adult literature. The ALAN Review, 42(2), 15-23. doi:10.21061/alan.v42i2.aJohnson, D. (2009). African american women writers of children’s and young adult literature. (pp. 210-223). Cambridge: Cambridge
4. Kaaba V., (2020) “Hearing Blackness: African-American Vernacular English in Children's Audiobook Literature Narration Performances”, Iowa State Conference on Race and Ethnicity21(1).
5. McNair, J. C. (2010). Classic African American children’s literature. The Reading Teacher, 64, 96–105.
To reference this page:
Muiru, Kaelyn. "Black Language in Children's and YA Lit." Black Language Syllabus, 30 Jan. 2021, http://www.blacklanguagesyllabus.com/black-language-in-childrens--ya-lit.html
Muiru, Kaelyn. "Black Language in Children's and YA Lit." Black Language Syllabus, 30 Jan. 2021, http://www.blacklanguagesyllabus.com/black-language-in-childrens--ya-lit.html