Julius Lester book: Let's Talk About Race

Let's Talk About Race
by Julius Lester

This book is one of my new favorite books, especially considering the multi-ethnic school that I work in.  In this book, the Lester has a frank conversation with the reader, helping them think about the different races they see around them.  My favorite lines from the story are, "I am a story.  So are you.  So is everyone," and "Beneath everyone's skin are the same hard bones."  Both of these short statements could make a huge impact to the reader.  Honestly, I have never thought about race in this manner; granted, I always try to teach my students to treat one another fairly, but by looking at it in this way, they might be able to better see that we are all the same deep-down.

I think this would be a great book to read the first week of school, where everyone is trying to get to know one another, as well as being able to let students know that you will not tolerate racism in any manner.  In addition, you could read this book to students if the need arises at any point in the year--children might often need to be reminded that they are all the same, and not just involving race.  The book also mentions that no matter what your parents do/how much money they make, what gender you are, where you live, or where you go to school, we are still all the same beneath all of that "stuff."  The story also gives some really neat ideas to help students get a real grasp on the subject of all being the same.  Lester encourages students to feel the area beneath their eye (but making sure not to poke themselves in the eyes) and feel the bone there, and then to feel someone else's bone.  Then, he asks the reader to feel one of their other bones, and feel the same area on someone else--all in hopes of the reader recognizing that we are ALL the same underneath our clothes, our hair and our skin.

Did I mention that I now LOVE LOVE LOVE this book?

Other titles by Julius Lester include:
To Be A Slave (1969), Black Folktales (1969), The Tales of Uncle Remus: The Adventures of Brer Rabbit (1987), How Many Spots Does a Leopard Have and other tales (1989), Long Journey Home (1972), Pharaoh's Daughter: A Novel (1995), When Dad Killed Mom (2001), Cupid: A Novel (2007), and many, many others.