“When we read we are able to travel to many places, meet many people & understand the world. We can also learn how to deal with problems we are having by learning from the past.” Nelson Mandela
“Readers are leaders”, is a common adage, but what does it truly mean in the 21st century? How can we use this phrase to empower the next generation? Love Me Stories will examine this powerful phrase through a Black historical lens.
Reading to self-educate was a powerful tool for many black historical figures, between 1740 and 1867 in the United States of America African-Americans were forbidden to read or write during slavery. With the abolishment of slavery in 1865, the legacy of substandard education persisted for African-Americans in the Jim Crow era. Despite systemic barriers reading played a crucial role for many black historical figures. Self-education empowered black people, black historical figures searched for books and literature wherever they could find it. Knowledge was a source of empowerment to get above the restrictions of a poor education. Before we learn lessons about how reading inspired and enhanced leadership skills for black historical figures, read our short story below.
Short Story Time Unusual Finds
Tevin hated books, Tevin disliked books so much that his teacher Miss Brown called him “a reluctant reader.” Tevin didn’t have a great relationship with books, books were boring to him and every word he read felt like a wall he couldn’t climb. One rainy afternoon, Tevin’s older sister Maya brought him into the local library. She needed to research for a school project, leaving Tevin to sulk among the dusty shelves. The rain outside turned into a steady downpour, Tevin knew he couldn’t go anywhere as the heavy rains trapped him inside the library.
Wandering around in the library, Tevin’s eyes landed on a battered book sticking out of the shelf. This book looked like it was 500 years old. It was plain black with gold lettering, the book was labelled “Unusual Finds.” The Secrets of the Unseen. Tevin couldn’t stop staring at this book, it was like it was calling his name. The book made Tevin so curious he pulled it out and flipped through the pages and a bold line appeared across the top page: “The moment you believe your story will begin.”
Seeing this line Tevin believed that the bold line was talking to him, all of a sudden the lights in the library started flickering with shadows all around him. “What’s happening?” said Tevin. Only to realise Tevin was no longer standing in the library.
Tevin, still holding the book, realised he was in a dense misty forest with trees all around him. The tree branches started twisting around him and the book beamed a radiant glow. “Welcome Tevin,” a low voice rumbled behind him. “Whose voice could this be?” thought Tevin. “You have unlocked the secret through the pages of the book, your journey to seek knowledge starts here.” said the unknown voice. Tevin held onto the book firmly with his eyes closed, as soon as he opened his eyes he was back in the library. Tevin realised he was so immersed into the story, that it became his story. From that day on Tevin never put a book down, the top page line changed his way of thinking which changed his life. “The moment you believe your story will begin.”
Dr. John Henrik Clarke: Self Education is the key (1915–1998)
Image: CUNY Hunter College in New York
“My mind would not accept that I continued to search and I opened a book the Negro Digs up his Past. And for the first time, I knew that I came from a very old people. Now the scramble began for more information.” Dr John Henrik Clarke
Dr John Henrik Clarke was born on the 1st of January 1915, Dr John Henrik Clarke is known as one of the greatest African American historians. A pioneer and educator who created Africana studies, he played a prominent intellectual role during the Harlem Renaissance and was a devoted Pan-Africanist. Dr John Henrik Clarke had a passion for reading, At a young age when Dr Clarke attended Sunday school he read bible stories, but he saw no people of African descent in the book. (despite the geographical location of the stories being within East Africa and the Middle East) Dr John Henrik Clarke suspected that the image of black people was removed from world history, and his search for an accurate history of black people began. Since Dr John Henrik Clarke had a deep appreciation for books at an early age, searching and investigating people of African descent did not feel like a chore, restoring the rightful place of people of African descent in history became a purpose. When he was told by a lawyer that black people had no history, he refused to accept this statement and persevered for answers through reading. Dr John Henrik Clarke wrote: John Henrik Clarke: “My Life in Search for Africa,” and had a personal library of 20,000 books, he credits the power of reading to his cultural awakening. Dr John Henrik Clarke’s dedication to pursue knowledge of African history opened many doors for him.
He mentored the first President of Ghana, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, during his time of study at Lincoln University, Philadelphia in the United States of America.
His ideas gained currency, inspiring many generations of students.
He published many books and received many awards for his contributions to education.
Lessons to learn for the 21st century: Lifelong learning and studying independently. Reading builds expertise and authority in one’s chosen field.
Skills: Research skills, cultural awareness by using literature to explore identity and creativity, learning history and implementing it into the curriculum.
Fun Fact: Arthur Schomburg mentored Dr John Henrik Clarke who was a pioneer in African studies.
Benjamin Banneker: Access to Knowledge and Self-Education (1731 – 1806)
Image: source from national today
“The colour of the skin is in no way connected with the strength of the mind or intellectual power.” Benjamin Banneker
Benjamin Banneker an African-American self-taught mastermind Mathematician, Astronomer and Almanac, Benjamin was a true example of the power of self-education. Ben was a curious learner, despite receiving limited formal education he continuously read scientific and mathematical books. At 15 years old Ben was able to create an irrigation system for his family farm. At 21 years old Benjamin received a pocket watch from a friend, he was so intrigued with the watch that he took the watch apart to figure out the mechanisms. The watch inspired him so much that he created his own clock from scratch. Benjamin’s crafted wooden clock lasted for 40 years. His continuous self-study of science, maths and astronomy enabled him to understand advanced concepts, which helped him predict weather patterns and the timing of solar and lunar eclipses. Benjamin lived in a time when limitations were put on black people in America, but it did not prevent him from achieving his accomplishments. Benjamin Banneker’s significant contributions advanced America’s scientific knowledge:
He surveyed and planned the layout of Washington DC
Published a series of Almanacs
Created Agriculture methods
Challenged President Thomas Jefferson’s views on race and advocated the end of slavery.
Lessons to learn for the 21st century: Independent learning through books and other resources bridges the gap between formal education, and self-taught skills fosters and inspire innovation. Lifelong learning is needed, learning is not only achieved behind school walls.
Skills to Learn: STEM/STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, maths), Clockmaking, Communication and Surveying.
Fun Fact: Banneker’s almanac contained information which predicted the weather, medicines, tide tables, and astronomical data
Frederick Douglass Reading a Path to Freedom (1818 – 1895)
Image: sourced via jemartisby.substack.com
“Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass, a well-known abolitionist, born into slavery Frederick from a young age saw the injustice and the atrocities of this dehumanising system. At the age of 8 Frederick was sent to Baltimore to live with another master, Frederick’s master’s wife took a liking to him and taught Frederick the alphabet and a few simple words. Frederick’s master found out and forbade his wife from teaching Frederick to read and write, at the time it was illegal to teach enslaved black people to read and write. It was believed that black people during slavery who learnt the system of reading and writing; would no longer be useful to the slave institution and would become rebellious. The moment of realisation dawned on Frederick, he understood the power of learning to read and write was his pathway to freedom. Frederick wasn’t discouraged when his slave master’s wife wasn’t allowed to teach him anymore, Frederick was determined to learn how to read and write by any means necessary. Frederick carried a book with him anytime he was sent on errands, he would make friends with young white boys who he would convert to teachers. Frederick would receive free lessons from the young boys and sometimes make payment with bread. “This bread I used to bestow upon the hungry little urchins, who, in return, would give me that more valuable bread of knowledge.” (Douglass, 1845) When Frederick learnt to read and write fully, he read the book containing speeches by Richard Sheridan, Richard loved freedom and hated injustice. Frederick didn’t keep the skill of reading and writing to himself, he shared it with others. He planned his escape from slavery which was successful, he arrived up North in New York and later ended up in Massachusetts networking with abolitionists. Frederick still consistently educated himself, he read newspapers that emphasised the anti-slavery movement, and he later became a national leader for an abolishment movement the American Anti-Slavery Society.
In 1845 Frederick Douglass published his book which was his autobiography called “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass An American Slave.” Frederick detailed his life experiences and the brutal treatment he received while in slavery, his book was a bestseller. Frederick used the power of reading to tell his story and let the world know about the atrocities of slavery. Frederick Douglass was the most photographed man of the 19th century in the United States, a prominent figure in the abolitionist movement. Among proving the slave masters’ argument wrong; of the intellectual capacity of the enslaved to learn and become independent, Frederick’s achievements:
Escaping slavery
Becoming an Abolitionist leader
His Autobiography was a bestseller helping to promote his abolitionist movement.
Advised President Abraham Lincoln
21st century lessons to learn: Reading can be used to empower yourself.
Books he wrote: The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass an American Slave
Skills: Self-education, Communication, Leadership, Public Speaking, Networking, Debating
Fun Fact: Frederick Douglass had many nicknames, he was often referred to as The Lion of Anacostia
Zora Neale Hurston Inspiration Through Reading (1891–1960)
“Mama exhorted her children at every opportunity to “jump at de sun.” We might not land on the sun, but at least we would get off the ground.” Zora Neale Hurston
Zora Neale Hurston is an African-American author and a pioneer in folklore and anthropology. Zora played an integral part in the Harlem Renaissance movement, a cultural phenomenon of writers who have impacted African American literature.
Zora Neale Hurston was born in Notasulga Alabama, at the age of 3 she and her family moved to Florida, Eatonville in 1894 a self-governed black community, a town that Zora consistently celebrated in her stories. Zora’s mother Lucy Potts Hurston was a schoolteacher and taught Zora how to read. She told Zora to jump at the sun, meaning to pursue her dreams and take risks. In 1901 Zora received books from teachers that travelled from the North visiting Eatonville, Zora described this event “as a personal literary awakening as a kind of birth.”
Zora’s mother’s passing was the turning point in her life. Her father remarried and Zora did not get along with her stepmother who was only six years older than her, she jumped from one family member to another. Zora was kicked out of her boarding school in Jacksonville, Florida when her family stopped paying her tuition fees. Zora had a hunger for learning, and in 1917 she applied to Morgan State University formerly known as Morgan Academy to seek knowledge. She applied to attend the institution to study their high school curriculum, Zora was 26 years old and removed 10 years off her age, to attend Morgan to receive the education she missed out on. In 1918 after completing Morgan State University, Zora attended a historically black college Howard University where she earned an associate’s degree. Zora started to write short stories during her time in Howard, she also co-founded the university student paper called Hilltop. In 1925 Zora gained a scholarship to attend Barnard College where she gained a B.A. Degree in Anthropology. Zora documented her research when she travelled to Jamaica and Haiti researching black stories within the African diaspora. Her love for reading and writing opened doors:
Zora published 50 short stories, essays and plays.
She has written her autobiography called “Dust Track on the Roads.”
A prominent Harlem Renaissance figure
Inspired multiple writers to tell African American stories
Zora’s novels are studied in Universities today. Preserving African American folklore.
Lessons to Learn for the 21st Century: Reading can be used to preserve cultural and artistic expression.
Books Zora wrote: Their Eyes Were Watching God, How It Feels To Be Colored Me, Sweat, Dust Tracks on a Road, Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo”, The Life of Herod the Great and many more.
Skills and traits to Learn: Storytelling, Researching, Writing, Multidisciplinary Thinking, Field Research
Fun fact: Hurston was Barnard University’s First Black Graduate.
Bessie Coleman From Reading to Flying High into the Skies (1892-1926)
Image: Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain
“I refused to take no for an answer” Bessie Coleman
Bessie Coleman was one of the first African American female pilots, a trailblazer, and a courageous woman willing to take risks. Born in Waxahachie, Texas Bessie grew up within a family of sharecroppers. Despite the discrimination and poverty Bessie faced, she loved to learn, no obstacle in Bessie’s path was strong enough to stop her from succeeding. Bessie travelled many miles to master reading and writing, she established herself as a top student in math. Bessie wanted to leave Texas, Waxahachie for better opportunities, when the opportunity arose Bessie migrated to Chicago in 1915. With the endeavour of seeking greener pastures in Chicago, she worked as a manicurist and a chilli parlour restaurant manager. Wanting to know what was happening around her, Bessie became a consistent reader of an African-American newspaper called the Chicago Defender. She learned about the World War 1 pilots, opening her up to discover the world of aviation. Life wasn’t full of roses in Chicago, Bessie had survived a race riot after living in Chicago for 5 years, and around this time her brothers came back from World War 1 with many stories to tell. Bessie’s brother John observed women flying aeroplanes in France during the war, previously reading about pilots such as Harriet Quimby the first American female to gain a pilot license becoming a pioneering aviator, Bessie’s brother’s observation motivated her even more to learn how to fly.
Bessie faced many obstacles when applying for flying schools in America, she was refused entry not only because of her gender but because of the colour of her skin. The rejection did not break Bessie’s spirit, she learnt French and applied to flying schools in France. In 1920 Bessie attended a prominent aviation school in France and completed a 10-month course. In 1921 Bessie Coleman returned to America performing air shows as a stunt pilot across the nation. Bessie Coleman passed away in April 1926, within 5 years of flying Bessie achieved so much:
Bessie was the first African American female pilot
She challenged the status quo looking for other avenues to achieve her goals as a pilot.
Inspired African Americans to enter into Aviation
Founded an Aviation school for African Americans in Los Angeles
Lessons to Learn for the 21st Century: Be determined when achieving your goals. Let books inspire you to make bold decisions.
Skills and traits to Learn: Courage, Tenacity, Altruism, Aerial Acrobatics & Stunt Flying, and Aircraft Mechanics Knowledge.
Fun Fact: Bessie Coleman survived a flight accident two years into her aviation career.
Conclusion
Video For educational purposes Fair Use
Reading and self-education played an integral part in the lives of these Black historical pioneers. Their drive to explore new narratives and question the ones they were given led them to books that completely transformed their lives. The 21st century requires a generation of young leaders to guide us toward positive change. When choosing books for your child’s curriculum needs, go the extra mile and buy books that inspire leadership, select books and resources that will expose your child to 21st-century skills, empowering them to make a meaningful impact anywhere in the world.
