Social Justice Resources
Social justice and a focus on social activism have become an essential component of many classrooms, schools, and curricula. For three decades, Lee & Low Books has been a leader in the movement for more diversity: in books, behind the scenes, in classrooms and libraries, and beyond.
Are you looking to add anti-racist books to your library but don't know where to start? Have you been thinking about how to have meaningful conversations with young people about race, but lack confidence in how to begin? The books in this collection will help you take the first steps or continue the critical discussions about anti-racism work relevant to your setting.
Read-alouds are wonderful ways to model proactive behaviors through determined characters and their respective cause(s). The mentor texts provided in the Social Activism list can inspire students to address an issue that they are passionate about, whether it’s a similar cause presented in the text or another cause that’s relevant to their own lives.
The Diversity Baseline Survey looks at four markers of diversity within the book publishing industry: racial diversity, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability. Why does diversity in publishing matter? The book industry has the power to shape culture in big and small ways. The people behind the books serve as gatekeepers, who can make a huge difference in determining which stories are amplified and which are shut out. If the people who work in publishing are not a diverse group, how can diverse voices truly be represented in its books?
Black Lives Matter is one of the most important social justice movements of our time, but it can be daunting to teach in the classroom. In our recorded conversation with four experts, we explore tools to help facilitate learning around the Black Lives Matter Movement and its principles. Laleña Garcia and Caryn Davidson, author and illustrator of What We Believe: A Black Lives Matter Principles Activity Book join Jesse Hagopian and Denisha Jones, co-authors of Black Lives Matter at School, as they share their expertise on teaching Black Lives Matter in the classroom as well as provide an in-depth look into their books.
When the Common Core Standards were created, the authors included a list of titles in Appendix B that exemplified the level of text complexity found in Appendix A and inherent quality for reading materials at each grade level. This list was intended as a comparative tool, as a way for teachers and administrators to measure current libraries against countrywide expectations for rigorous literature and informational text. Since its publication, this list, and the titles included and omitted, has created quite a bit of controversy.
Our Diversity Gap studies highlight distinct societal problems that pervade entertainment, media, and even the US government. Underrepresentation, inequality, and lack of social justice all stem from not having a seat at the proverbial table. While some would argue that we live in a post-racial society, and that discussions about race are not needed, we question why the numbers look like they do.