I had two students join me today to read and reflect upon the life and work of Dr. King. I have worked with them since the summer after their kindergarten year and they are now in third grade. As I prepared for my lesson I found that the third grade leveled book I was going to have them read provided more uncomfortable images and content than the books for younger learners. It provided more truth.

 

I started with the typical "What do you already know about MLK and why we celebrate him?" The response from the boys was "He did something with a bus boycott and wanted all people to be equal. I don't remember much else." 

 

So we dug in. Every page of the book introduced a new vocabulary word, idea, or inequity that the boys wanted to talk about and we discussed each one. I listened as they reflected upon the truth about slavery, Jim Crow, the KKK, housing, job, and voting inequality. They discovered and I validated that although laws had changed that they still see this inequity today. I held space for them to connect the dots between MLK's yesterday and their today. Most importantly I echoed their responses of "that is just unfair, it is not right. something bigger has to change." 

 

They needed and wanted to talk about their world as young boys of color and I was grateful to be part of their conversation.

 

The truth is uncomfortable. The conversation is hard. As educators and advocates for change it is our job to reveal the truth and let our students safely process it in a space that is loving and honest even if it is virtual.