Pamela J. Greene
* Adams, William, Peter Conn, and Barry Slepian, eds.
Afro-American Literature: Nonfiction
. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1970.
Essays and autobiographies by Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. DuBois, LeRoi Jones and others ranging from early spokesmen of the black experience to thoughts about new directions of the movement.
Baldwin, James.
Notes of a Native Son
. New York: Bantam Books, 1955.
Autobiographical narrative of Baldwin’s search for identity as a black American writer.
Bleiweiss, Robert M., ed.
Marching To Freedom: The Life of Martin Luther King Jr.
. Connecticut: American Education Publications, 1968.
Beginning with the assassination of Martin Luther King, this book chronicles King’s fight for freedom. The text and photos are powerful reminders of the strength, conviction and love that this great leader inspired.
DeCarava, Roy and Langston Hughes.
The Sweet Flypaper of Life
. New York: Hill and Wang, 1955.
This is a fictional account of the thoughts of a black grandmother who is taken ill and talks to God about why she needs to continue living because of the many people who depend on her. Through powerful photographs and text the reader is brought into the life of blacks in Harlem. This is a touching and informative book.
Dove Rita
Museum
New York: Carnegie-Mellon University Press, 1983.
This book of poetry is beautifully written and tells a lot about the author as well as the background she grew up in.
* Farrington, Jan. “Writing To Improve Your Life.”
Writing!
. Volume 8, No. 5 (January, 1986), 3-15.
An excellent monthly student magazine that explores written communication and contains many mini lesson plans for teachers.
Frank, Anne.
The Diary of a Young Girl
. London: Otto H. Frank, 1952.
This is the compelling diary of a young girl’s struggle with adolescence and war.
Hughes, Langston, and Arna Bontemps, eds.
The Poetry of
the Negro 1746 1970, New York: Doubleday, 1970.
An excellent and diverse compilation of poetry from a wide variety of poets.
* Taylor, Karl T.
stages in writing
. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1973.
A writing text that integrates grammar, mechanics, rhetoric and writing. This text aims to teach the abstract writer to become more specific. Many writing assignments.
Washington, Booker T. “My Struggle for an Education.” Chicago: Scott, Foresman, 1964.
An uplifting autobiographical essay about Washington’s desire and struggle to become educated.
*These texts are particularly helpful and informative for teachers.