Educator Releases New Kids Book Highlighting Important Stories of Resistance Throughout Black History

SICKLERVILLE, NJ – Black history is robust and multifaceted, however, much of what students learn about Black history is limited. While topics including enslavement, first achievements and the Civil Rights movement aren’t without merit, the instruction of these alone fail to display the totality of what activist and former Director of the Center for Black Studies Research Dr. Cedric Robinson referred to as the Black Radical Tradition. In his new book, Resistance Stories from Black History for Kids, educator and scholar Rann Miller explores little known aspects of history to showcase a more complete picture of Black history that features the Black Radical Tradition– the continuing development of a collective consciousness informed by historical struggles for liberation and motivated by a shared obligation to preserve the collective being.

“During the month of February, kids in America will spend some time learning about Black history,” said Miller. “I want them to learn two things; that during times of oppression Black people resisted and never stopped and that learning about it shouldn’t be limited to one month. It is critical that kids of all races–who then grow up to become adults–be taught the full picture of Black history throughout the year. It is my hope that this book, in providing a clearer picture of the past, sparks the types of conversations people should be having as we grapple with current events that stem from history. We can’t fix things in the present and future without having a deeper comprehension of what happened before.”

In Resistance Stories from Black History for Kids, Miller masterfully sheds light on stories that speak to the spirit of resistance and liberation within African peoples; a spirit that is actively being attacked by opponents of “critical race theory” and “wokeness.” At a time where understanding historical truths is essential to addressing inequities, Resistance Stories invites readers to explore and contemplate hard truths based on historical facts that aren’t often seen in the history books used in American classrooms.