In honor of Black liberation movements today, as we think about the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. we must continue the conversation, make moves that carry forth into being the legacy from which he came. On Sunday night I found, through a long search in blogs and message boards, a blog with a “Reading Rainbow” episode, Follow The Drinking Gourd, to teach to a fourth grader. Among my other clients, I am a homeschool teacher for her on zoom for the time. We spend many hours together.
After we watched it, there, after hours on the screen, when the sun was shrouded in clouds, we looked outside. I couldn’t have told you if it was cold mild – and I would bet that she didn’t know either.
We talked about music, how it helps you to remember, how it helps you to feel, and I played the Nina Simone song Ain’t Got No – I Got Life. How to sing through and into each experience no matter what it is, to place oneself in the dream that is one’s true freedom. The Black liberation struggle is a key to – is a hammer – is a melody that can unearth the sick roots, and bring through the land a wild, growing, magical and magnificent – lively way.
So what does the student have – things that cannot be taken away? What are the things they love about themselves – their physical self and their character — their soul? I said toe hairs, I said seasons, she said, her love of horses, go for it.
Make a small book and write one of these things for each page.
On the cover, draw yourself in a place where you feel most free. Maybe you can even practice singing your books together. On the back ask a question, any question, how will you carry the conversation on?
Instructions on how to make your paper book:
You will need 1 piece of paper and scissors
Fold a piece of paper like a hot dog
fold it in half horizontally
Again, horizontally
unfold the paper, it should have eight rectangles
Fold the paper like a hamburger
*cut from the fold to the center of the sheet.
You’ll have a slit in the center now.
Make it a diamond.
fold it into a cross and each of those arms, press them down into a book.
Bending Tree Education 