For the smart and free-thinking, Black Market Reads is a podcast featuring conversations with today's most exciting Black literary voices. We are a podcast for any one who loves to read, write, and engage. Black Market Reads is a project of The Givens Foundation for African American Literature.
Literacy as Liberation: Voices from Benjamin E. Mays School
“It is not your environment, it is you – the quality of your minds, the integrity of your souls, and the determination of your wills – that will decide your future and shape your lives”.
Dr. Benjamin E. Mays
In this special episode of Black Market Reads, Lissa Jones turns the conversation from the authors who write our stories to the young readers who will carry them forward. Recorded at Benjamin E. Mays Afrocentric Magnet School in St. Paul, the episode begins with Freedom School scholars sharing the books they love and reflecting on reading, history, and community. Lissa then sits down with Principal Danielle Hughes and Assistant Principal Peirre Ali to explore literacy as liberation, the importance of children seeing themselves in literature, and their vision for an Afrocentric school that centers the brilliance of Black children.
In this special episode of Black Market Reads, Lissa Jones turns the conversation from the authors who write our stories to the young readers who will carry them forward. Recorded at Benjamin E. Mays Afrocentric Magnet School in St. Paul, the episode begins with Freedom School scholars sharing the books they love and reflecting on reading, history, and community.
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Whi is Benjamin E. Mays
What is Freedom School?
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Principal Hughes says that the Benjamin E. Mays Magnet follows the Nguzo Saba Principles of Kwanza.
Black Market Reads is a product of The Givens Foundation for African American Literature produced in partnership with iDream.tv. Funding for this series, focusing on literature and the humanities, is provided by the Minnesota Humanities Center.
Our production team for this episode includes co-producers Lissa Jones and Edie French, technical director Paul Auguston, the voice Yo Derek, and our artist of inspiration Ta-coumba T. Aiken.
