BLS Essential Summer Reads
Bringing Our Community Together--A BLS Essential August Read
As many in our BLS community are aware, we have created a BLS Essential Summer Reads program, which consists of a packet of articles for students and faculty to read over the summer in order to explore topics that cross academic disciplines during rich classroom discussions and activities in the fall. We remain excited about these readings, which were chosen in the early days of campus closure. However, we believe that there is more we must do as we prepare for our return to school this fall.
The events of late May have brought great pain to our country, a searing reminder that we have miles to go before truly freeing ourselves from the grip of racial injustice. We are committed to addressing this together as a whole school community so that when we return in September--in whatever form that takes--we can take part in the difficult but vital conversations that need to happen on an ongoing basis.
As a starting point for these discussions next year, we will be adding an article to our BLS Essential Summer Reads, and we invite BLS families to participate once the article is selected. Read the full message.
Stream Eyes on the Prize
Facing History is providing all episodes of Eyes on the Prize to stream. Set up an account then watch for free. This series, with rare historical film and interviews, is considered the leading documentary on the American Civil Rights Movement.
- Episode 1: Awakenings (1954-1956)
- Episode 2: Fighting Back (1957-1962)
- Episode 3: Ain't Scared of Your Jails (1960-1961)
- Episode 4: No Easy Walk (1962-1966)
- Episode 5: Mississippi: Is this America? (1962-1964)
- Episode 6: Bridge to Freedom (1965)
- Episode 7: The Time Has Come (1964-1966)
- Episode 8: Two Societies (1965-1968)
- Episode 9: Power! (1966-1968)
- Episode 10: The Promised Land (1967-1968)
- Episode 11: Ain't Gonna Shuffle No More (1964-1972)
- Episode 12: A Nation of Law (1968-1971)
- Episode 13: The Keys to the Kingdom (1974-1980)
- Episode 14: Back to the Movement (1979-mid 1980's)
Hampton, Henry, creator. Eyes on the Prize. Directed & produced by Judith Vecchione. Blackside, Inc., PBS, 1987.
Suggested reading lists
An anti-racist reading list created by Ibram X. Kendi, a professor and director of the Antiracist Research & Policy Center at American University, is the National Book Award-winning author of Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America and the forthcoming How to Be an Antiracist.
These Books Can Help You Explain Racism and Protest to Your Kids created by Jessica Grouse of the New York Times. Suggestions for toddlers to teens.
Books about Racism and Social Justice Suggested by Common Sense Media Link to descriptions and suggested age ranges.
From the National African American Museum of History and Culture
Talking About Race
The National Museum of African American History and Culture has created resources to guide people to begin or continue conversations on race with personal testaments about why people talk about race.
Tools and guidance are available to explore topics such as:
From the Boston Public Library
Click here to access the BPL's Race, Social Justice and Civil Rights guide, with links to resources to inform and to guide advocacy, including:
Boston Public Library staff recommendations
- 21 Simultaneous access Black Lives Matter titles - No waiting, immediately available.
- Conversations about Race (for adults) Fiction, nonfiction and poetry in Hoopla.
- Conversations about Race (YA reads) Fiction and nonfiction for teens from Hoopla.
Connect to Families for Equity and Diversity (FEqD)
Families for Equity and Diversity (FEqD) is a Boston Latin School organization that seeks to promote equity, understanding, and active consideration of the diverse BLS community through education, advocacy, communication, and activities to build deeper connections. Please visit its website for more information.