so-soA group of young protesters are gassed by authorities with an experimental substance, resulting in many of the crowd developing powers. Reminiscent of other teen heroes of color, Kamala Khan and Miles Morales, Virgil is a good student whom is bullied at school but has a close group of friends. Upon controlling his new abilities, he rises to defend folks from other powered kids. Serious and not as light and fun as the other books mentioned.
so-soI loved this small & powerful book. The book is comprised of poetry, artwork & essays. The author, a professor, discusses the impact of the last 25 years has had on Black children growing up in the US. She calls them the Trayvon Generation since they have been so exposed to & hear about the violence that happens. “They always knew these stories. These stories formed their worldview. These stories helps instruct young African Americans about
bailedI just can‘t with this book anymore. If you are into martial arts for the sport, the exercise, the community - if you‘re more into forms than sparring - this book is absolutely NOT written for you. If you‘re into martial arts to win fist fights (street fights is Christensen‘s preferred term), to beat people up, to find new, unique, inventive, and technical ways to hurt people…
👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻
Anyone else see a problem here? This guy goes on and on about how he was a cop and all the fist fights he got into. A motorist is angry, so your response is to elbow him in the face repeatedly? This guy is straight up obsessed with beating people up. He doesn‘t give a crap about sport, his in it to beat people up. I don‘t feel like this is what martial arts are supposed to be about these days.
#SoloTraining #LorenWChristensen
“He wasn‘t strong because he wasn‘t afraid. No, he was strong because he kept doing it even though he was afraid.”
This book would do well in a middle school and high school setting. It allows students to see how other students experience life through societal biases and stereotypes and can increase a sense of empathy for differences in life.
pickThis book has an important story to tell about a complex to-be friend group. In high school Rasham and Quinn are two students just trying to live their life. After a night out at a party, Quinn sees Rashad being brutally attacked by a police officer and does not know what to do. The story unfolds to see how the students and community respond to these actions while the two boys have to deal with their own personal lives as well.
pickEssays. Mothering Black boys in US, surviving anti-Black violence. Beautiful reproductions of artwork by Jennifer Packer, Lorna Simpson, Kara Walker. 2022
P64 “Do I really believe that cultural expression can somehow shape a world where our children are safer?”
P73 “No matter how intellectual and multicolored motherhood becomes as children grow older, the part that says, ‘My purpose on earth is to keep you alive‘ has never totally dissipated.”
pickThis book is about two high school boys and their journey of becoming friends as they handle racism and police brutality in their community. The book highlights the aspects of racial inequalities and coming together to bring light on social injustices. Overall, the book is very well-written and is very relatable to current world problems that many people face today within their communities.
pickTwo boys in high school, one boy is black, Rashad and one boy is white, Quinn, they are not friends in the beginning. They go to a party with a separate group of friends, Quinn is looking to buy alcohol, and Rashad accidentally trips a woman and spills across the store. Rashad is then arrested and beaten by a police officer. Quinn is faced with what he should do about the way the police officer treated Rashad.
