SUMMARY: We have some practical tips in this email AND some more freebies!

Do you remember the quote from the previous email? It was written 100 years ago and still so powerful, it bares repeating. Hopefully, the message will begin to sink in and we can build more confidence in our children and community.

"You go to school, you study about the Germans and the French, but not about your own race. I hope the time will come when you study Black history too." - Booker T. Washington

Speaking of confidence, that was the main subject of our last email, it is the one thing we must do for our children. We must build confidence in them by instilling an appreciation not of just the person they see in the mirror, but the community, culture and people that are a part of them.

The email was very well received. I want to thank for all your comments, feedback and appreciation of the 5 steps we shared for engaging your children at home and instilling confidence in them. If you have any comments or thoughts about that last email then please do reach out!

If you don’t recall, here were my 5 steps for working with our young people I’d developed over the years.

1. Teach - Regularly share simple Black history facts with your children.
2. Relate - Don’t just talk at the children, make lessons relatable.
3. Read - Read small segments about these facts with your children.
4. Listen - Allow them to teach you.
5. Encourage - Tell them they are doing great and you are proud of them.

There is more to the process and steps, but don’t want to take up your time here with all the details. Feel free to check the previous email for more information.

And to recap, Who am I?

My name is Freddie Taylor, the founder of Urban Intellectuals. We produce a series of historical education products designed to educate, engage and empower the Black community. We are priviledged to have millions of visits to our website each year, over 1 million Facebook fans, sold over 125,000 decks of our world renowned Black History Flashcards, and been all over the media in places like CBS, TV One’s Sister Circle Live, featured in Essence magazine and much, much more.

I am a father of two Black boys, ages 15 and 19. Therefore, I understand the challenges of raising them in a society and school system that doesn’t value our history. The challenges you are facing are the challenges I’ve faced and am facing. WE are fighting the same fight to make sure our children have the love, honor and respect of themselves and their ancestors in a society stressing the opposite.

Can’t Change Overnight

Unfortunately, we won’t be able to change the school system overnight. We will not be able to rally the biased government to change their approach by tomorrow, so the time to study Black history is now, but it starts AT HOME!

And creating a home environment that reflects who we are is extremely important. I’m not saying you have to hang Akwete cloth from every wall and change every door and drawer handle to Adrinka symbols (although that would be epic if you did!) but an impactful environmental change for your children and yourself can be attained very easily with a few very small changes.

5 simple things....

Here are 5 things you can do TODAY to make that environmental change.

1. Print out a picture of the Sankofa Bird, an Adrinkra Symbol from Ghana that summarizes so much for Black people! If you don't know the symbol you will be happy to learn about it! Put it in a prominent place and frame it (the frame isn’t necessary, but would be a nice touch). At the bottom of the stairs or on the fridge is a great place!
2. Find an traditional African cloth pattern, get the material or print out an image of it and get in laminated. Colors and symbols are a BIG part of our African heritage and materials meant a lot to our ancestors. These can be placemats for your children to eat their breakfast from, small coasters to put your orange juice on. Even better explain the origin of the pattern the prints so they can be discussed with your children!
3. Go get library card. Take out a book on a Black history person or event. Make sure this is left on the coffee table or in plain sight. You, your children and family WILL pick it up when you are passing and browse at VERY least. Rotate these books every few weeks. Make sure you allow your children see you reading these books every now and again. It will peak their interest.
4. Learn to cook some food from our people. Feeling the food of our ancestors, culture and being the creator of that food brings an unmatchable pride and connection. www.africanfoodmap.com is an absolutely excellent resource for learning about African Cooking! Don't forget to delve into traditional Black American foods too!
5. Ask your child to draw or write what they have learned about themselves and their history each week. Hang these writings and drawings around the house, date them and make sure they stay a focal point of your child’s journey. You’ll tear up every time you walk past them!

I know what you are saying, “how am I going to accomplish all of this? I don’t have the time, don’t know where to start and isn’t this going to be costly?”

First of all, the cost of your children not being culturally connected to their history and heritage is immeasurable and something you clearly don’t want. Secondly, don’t worry, we got your back!

Included below is a few free downloads to get you started.

And the library card is free, simple to get, so there are no excuses for not introducing new and regular books into your children’s lives on a monthly basis, so go out and get started.

Before You Begin

But before you get started, I want to let you knowthat you should SIGN UP BELOW and soon I’ll have another email for you explaining how you can stop this racist educational system from ruining your children. Make sure you are looking out for it. I will officially introduce you to the Sankofa Club that will be launching very soon!.

This program will show you how to take ownership of your children’s education and improve your knowledge of self in the process.

PS.... And also before you go... can you do me a favor? Please visit the facebook post here or email us [email protected] letting us know what do you think about the 5 ways to improve your child’s environment? Do you think this is something you can do in your home?

Peace and blessings,

Freddie Taylor
CEO
Sankofa Club l Urban Intellectuals