Dear Mr. Flaherty:
I recently listened to you as a guest on a radio show/podcast where you made a comment... about what upsets today's black children.
The answer was slavery. Black kids in this 21st century were upset and worried about slavery. What!?!?!? How can this be?
Having worked as a children's librarian for nearly a decade... and interacting with black children, families and schoolteachers (and their white counterparts) there is something I noticed. Though elementary school may not have "Critical Race Theory" being promoted in their hallways, there is an obsession with other racial matters, specifically- the slavery era.
Though there are plenty of books about famous black inventors, athletes, military leaders and blacks in different historical eras... such as the 1920s (Harlem Renaissance), 1800s Buffalo Soldiers, 1700s-1800s Free People of Color, WWII overseas and home-front blacks... plus, modern setting books with blacks; these are not books that are sought.
Books about slavery seem to be the only thing on their reading lists.
If not about slavery... then books about discrimination were always requested. This is the only perspective so many youngsters are getting.
When the School Library Journal came out with a list of "diverse" children's books... there are titles about slave ships, Jim Crow Mississippi and the like. Everything about school and the library books is focused on American slavery; and the white-black dynamic of it.
Oh, and this same list has a children's book about a little black Muslim girl who lives in Mauritania, Africa... and who wants to wear a head-to-toe covering like the other "grown up Muslim women."
My jaw dropped when I saw that. Especially, reviews about the book says it is a "positive portrayal" of Islamic culture. Seriously?
In the 21st Century... Mauritania still has black slavery- as in black people being bought, sold and owned by black Muslim and Arab Muslim people. Countless women instead of wanting to be covered, wish to live their lives NOT as 3rd class citizens and be free of body coverings. Many more want a stop to female genital mutilation and would like to have educations. This is Mauritania TODAY.
This book is promoted as being "diverse" and be all touchy feely about wonderful Muslim Africa and Islam. Islam for the past 1400 years has had continual slavery- mostly targeting black people.
This is promoted as being "diverse", though not a very honest look at Muslim Africa and little girls who live there. YET, plenty of books about American slavery... which ended of course in the 1860s.
There was listed a book about black girls in Sudan... but I don't know if it mentions slavery or the fact of Islamic involvement. Slavery still exists... and is not discussed in a book about happy Muslim girls who desire to be covered head to toe in a nation where slavery is rampant.
In a place where slavery ended generations ago, America... and the main group that was enslaved has made tremendous strides in all aspects of society... well, that slavery is a "constant image" while the positive strides are many times ignored... in children's books, lesson plans and more.
No wonder those black kids are "worried" about slavery- parents, teachers, institutions are all re-enforcing the slavery era to these children. While places like Muslim controlled Mauritania are Islamic paradises for black females.