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Thumper
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, December 04, 2002 - 02:32 pm: | 
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Hello All,
This is a continuation of our thread, Have You Been Reading the classics?. I'm continuing it here so that we can focus on this subject exclusively.
Brian, you wrote: "YOUR STATEMENT:
Ask a young black boy what he's interested in, I would think. C'mon dawg, it ain't that deep. The trick is, would you have a book ready for him to read on that subject that he finds interesting. But before all of that happens, make sure he knows how to read in the first place.
REPLY:
We have asked them and guess what NONE of them said peeked their interest…The Classics. Essentially you have answered your question, Thump and surmised the debate
“The trick is, would you have a book ready for him to read on that subject that he finds interesting.”
More often than not, we don’t have these books for these readers and perhaps it is because we are busy telling writers they stink, their book is bad, they are brilliant, their books is extraordinary. Perhaps were are too busy debating what is or is not literature instead of debating what means we can use to inspire people to use that right which was earned by blood sweat and tears…the right to read—whatever they choose."
Brian's schooling continues...
Please allow me to use one of your well worn technique, where did I say anything in the classic discussion about making, or inspiring little black boys to read by having them read the classics? *eyebrow raised* Find it please and post it. I'll wait...*whistling*....
I didn't say it. You brought this up and I can't figure out where you got it. But since you mentioned, I answered you, and by your response, you didn't read my answer very carefully. First, make sure that the boys can READ! READ!! I'm not kidding! A good number of our children are not reading on the levels they should be. You can not make the assumption that just because our children are going to school and getting decent grades that they are reading at their full potential. Many are not. Where have you been, dawg. We have brought this issue up for discussion a number of times over the past 5 years. I didn't become aware of it, unitl I had my then 17 year old niece read me a short story and she couldn't do it. To make matters worse, she was an honor roll student! So before you start handing out books, have a clear understanding that the fight you're fighting is deeper than what you're preceiving it to be.
Now, I can understand that you have a vested interest in getting folks to read because it affects the wallet, its like a great untapped source of income. Ain't nothing wrong with it, but lets be real for a minute. Our world is changing. The world isn't the same where its easy to be illiterate, not anymore. Computers are everywhere and anyplace where you don't see them, give them a minute, the computers will get there after a while. We should be striving to make sure that our children can READ.
Second, you brought up your nephew and his Ninetendo. True, the video games today are awesome. I have all of them myself, except for the Playstation 2, cause I'm waiting for the price to drop one more time. Now, I have the answer to the dilemma you pose concerning how can we get our boys to read when they have these video game system and other things that are more captivating. Well, Brian the answer is called...watch me close now...PA REN TING! PARENTING! Hello! There's no law that says, every boy child must have a video game system. There's no device that will give the parents an electric shock when they touch the ON/OFF button. And surprise, surprise, there's no automatic payroll deduction that goes to buy video games because the IRS is overseeing it. Take the Ninetendo away and put a book in the boys hand instead of the controller.
Third, like I said, find out what the child is interested in! If its cars, believe it or not, there are books that have nothing but cars in them. If its boats, there are boat books. It may not hurt to like...take the baby to the library on a regular basis.
Oh, and here's another radical move...how about you, as the parent, read a book in front of him.
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Sis E
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, December 08, 2002 - 02:07 pm: |
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Hi Thumper,
In response to how to get young Black boys to read, offer them children's books that feature Black boy characters, as well as sports books, biographies of their favorite sports/entertainment/contemporary Black males. Of course, being a children's book author myself, I naturally suggest children's books! Authors like Christopher Paul Curtis, Julius Lester, Tony Medina, Walter Dean Myers, my goodness, there are tons of "boy" books out there to interest them.
Sis E |
Thumper
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, December 08, 2002 - 08:20 pm: |
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Hello Sis E,
Long time, no hear from, how are you doing? I'm so glad you mentioned some of the authors of "boy" books!! I wasn't aware of them myself until last year and I had the chance to read a couple of them. |
Sis E
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, December 08, 2002 - 09:21 pm: |
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I just finished writing a "boy" book myself and hope I got the male view on target. It's called Abram's Way and will be out next fall.
Brian (I think) was correct in calling attention to the problem of poor reading skills. Too often boys with poor reading skills are forced to read books that have no appeal to them, which doubles the problem, i.e., being forced to read books that are all about girls.Boys want to see themselves depicted in books. Which is why boys like my book Front Porch Stories at the One-Room School).
Bring on the comic books! Bring on the cartoons! If it will get them to sit still enough to concentrate on reading, let them read it! It's been proven that these kinds of reading material will draw readers to other kinds of reading material that's on a "higher" plane.
It's also important for young boys to see adult males reading, so that they can see that reading is an "all right" thing to do. |
Carey
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, December 08, 2002 - 09:32 pm: |
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Hello Sis E
Women, where you been *smile*?
It good to see that you're still hanging with us, it's been awhile since you've last submitted a post. Your insight is always a welcome relief. Now don't you stay away so long this time.
You know I've been giving your books away as Christmas gift for the last few years. What do you have new to offer this year, it's not too late. Ann says hello and thanks for the books you sent. |
Sis E
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 09, 2002 - 05:04 pm: |
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Wazzup, Bro. Carey, and Sis. Ann!
We moved to another house this spring and sold our old house this summer, and spent this fall writing a new book (Abram's Way, out in the summer of 2003), writing an homage to Langston Hughes (Dream/Girl Magazine), and a piece for New Advocate Journal (spring 2003).
And right now we're recovering from the effects of that huge ice storm that knocked out our electricity and our heat, along with thousands of others in North Carolina. As of today, Monday, some folks still don't have heat, and it's cooooolllld down heah!
Anyway, you may be interested in a collection of biographical profiles that I co-authored with James Haskins (general editor), Clinton Cox and Brenda Wilkerson called Black Stars in the Harlem Renaissance. It's for young adults as well as adults.
And I still make school visits to elementary schools. |
Tee C. Royal
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 04, 2003 - 01:29 am: |
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Sis E, I'm a new mother and am just now getting introduced to all the great Children Authors out there. Last week, I read about 7 children's titles and boy was I loving it. My daugher is only 9 months, but she loves hearing us read to her and sometimes she gets bossy and insists on holding the book herself and turning the pages. I'm so relieved that she stopped eating them...ahah. (Now to break her from messing with MY BOOKS. Just today she pulled down a book (by a white author), tore off the book jacket and almost reached the AA Book title that was next to it. She took off when she saw me enter the room...LOL)
I don't know your name, but I'm off to search for your books to add to her collection. And if I can't find it, I will be back begging for more info. :-)
If anyone else knows of more Black Children's Books, please keep me posted. I've been doing a lot of research the last five months, but I'd like to beef up Ms Joy's collection with ones that others have and know are good.
My husband and I are both readers, so I can't imagine her not liking to read. She won't have a choice and even though she watches a lot of educational shows, I try to read to her every day.
-Tee |
Tee C. Royal
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 04, 2003 - 01:57 am: |
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Me again...LOL. I found your books Sis E and I'm placing an order right now!!!
-Tee |
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