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Different Racisms by Matt Salesses

Different Racisms

An article "How the Rules of Racism Are Different for Asian Americans", was shared over a million times on Facebook and has grown into a book. See on goodmenproject.com

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Speak Up! Responding to Everyday Bigotry

SPEAK UP! Your brother routinely makes anti-Semitic comments. Your neighbor uses the N-word in casual conversation. Your co-worker ribs you about your Italian surname, asking if you're in the mafia. Your classmate insults something by saying, "That's so gay." And you stand there, in silence, thinking, "What can I say in response to that?" Or you laugh along, uncomfortably. Or, frustrated or angry, you walk away without saying anything, thinking later, "I should have said something." People spoke about encounters in stores and restaurants, on streets and in schools. They spoke about family, friends, classmates and co-workers. They spoke about what they did or didn't say — and what they wished they did or didn't say. And no matter the location or relationship, the stories echo each other. Speak Up! is a book that shares love, insight and pain, but also offers "lost words", practical solutions and hope for a better tomorrow. Download your free copy of SPEAK UP! Another great resource offered by Teaching Tolerance.
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Poem: "We are talking about" (biracial)

This will be my last poem from Arnold Adoff's book "All the Colors of the Race" that I featured a couple of days ago. There are many more great poems in the book--buy it or check it out from your local library! We are talking about by Arnold Adoff We are talking about                            the ones who pick        their friends                            because of how    black      they act                                                                              or                            because of how    white     they can                                                                              be. Sometimes blackness seems too black for me,                     and whiteness is too     sickly pale;                     and I wish every                                         one were golden from                                                                     the                                                                    sun.                          Golden from the                                                    inside                                                 out.
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Poem: "No Difference" by Shel Silverstein

I spent many hours as a child loving Shel Silverstein's book of poems, Where the Sidewalk Ends. This was definitely one of my favorites:

No Difference

by Shel Silverstein

Small as a peanut

Big as a giant,

We're all the same size

When we turn off the light.

Red, black or orange,

Yellow or white

We all look the same

When we turn off the light.

So maybe the way

To make everything right

Is for God to just reach out

And turn off the light!

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Children's Book: "The Rabbits' Wedding" by Garth Williams

The Rabbits' Wedding by Garth Williams

The Rabbits' Wedding is, hands down, my youngest daughters favorite book. It has been as far back as I can remember. It's a sweet story about two little rabbits, one white and the other black, who fall in love and want to be together forever. The illustrations are darling! Garth Williams is famous for illustrating many books, two of the most notable are Stuart Little and Charlotte's Web. Here's a favorite page that always produces laughs:

Interestingly, the book was banned in several places during the 1960's for fear that it was "brainwashing" children into thinking integration/interracial marriage was good. Sweet message + darling illustrations = priceless! BUY IT HERE!

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Book: "The Painted Man: What My Son Taught Me About Race"

The Painted Man: What My Son Taught Me About Race
by Desmond Williams
Another great find! Father in a multiracial family, Desmond Williams, puts pen (pencil) to paper and creates a soon-to-be-published graphic novel The Painted Man: What My Young Son Taught Me About Race. The collection is a "coming of race” memoir that finds a dad confronted by racially charged questions posed directly by his young son and the people with whom they come into contact. This book can be used as a conversation starter, a self-reflection inducer, or simply a window into an experience that might not reflect your own. More about The Painted Man
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Children's Book: "Mother's Day" (multiracial)

Mother's Day by Anne Rockwell

In my constant endeavor to find books that reflect diversity, I ran across this great book by author Anne Rockwell. I thought the timing couldn’t be more perfect! Mother’s Day is set in Mrs. Madoff’s class where children (reflecting different cultures and ethnicities) discuss the different ways they will celebrate the holiday, making breakfast, hiking, snuggling, etc. The children were asked to bring in a button for class that they use in making a special tissue paper flower for mom (bonus: instructions are included). I enjoyed many things about the book (illustrations are darling) but I especially liked that a single mother is represented along with a grandmother raising her granddaughter. The children and mothers spent lots of time picking out their button and had little stories about why they chose their particular button. Mom’s didn’t know what the button was for and were surprised that it was to make a flower. Really sweet book! Buy your copy here! Do you have any books to share?

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