Giving Compass' Take:

• David Banks, CEO of the Eagle Academy Foundation, explains the origin and planning of the Rising Voices Library, a curated collection of literature that showcases men and boys of color. 

• Banks sheds light on why these books were intentionally selected to celebrate young boys of color and their aspirations. How can schools and educators ensure that young boys of color are supported throughout the year? 

• Read more about the Rising Voices Library. 

I curated the Rising Voices Library in partnership with Scholastic in order to address an enduring problem: Young men of color do not see their own lives and backgrounds reflected in positive ways in the authentic text they read in their classrooms. Comprised of two copies of 25 titles per grade level from K-5 for a total of 300 books, each of them an inspiring narrative featuring a protagonist who is a man or a young man of color, Rising Voices is a landmark in the movement for culturally relevant curricula.

The void of representation begins as early as kindergarten and continues through high school, when students are writing term papers about novels in which protagonists of color are absent. The status quo marginalizes these students, resulting all too often in their disengagement. Unable to recognize themselves in their curriculum, disengaged students are climbing an uphill battle.

This has to change.

There were several critical dimensions to the holistic framework that informed the selection of books for the Rising Voices Library. We wanted these books to help students of color understand the value of family, culture and community in terms of how we can enrich each other’s lives and foster a safe, protective culture. I also wanted the Rising Voices Library to have memorable characters in whom young men of color could see and better understand themselves.

The texts in this collection are authentic, meaning that they were written to teach students to reflect on how they feel about what they read, rather than focusing on teaching a particular skill. Moreover, these books were deliberately selected to celebrate the aspirations and abilities of boys and men of color.

Read the full article about educating young men of color by David Banks at The 74.