Day 16: A Conduit for Discussions about Race with Young People.

    Rolling through the days of February, here is another title to consider for Black History Month.  This book would be appropriate for teachers, educators and home schoolers as well.  I had the opportunity to meet the editor a few years back when he was on a book tour for winning an award from the Library of Michigan.  The book that had won the award was Rowing Inland.  Reading poetry is not for everyone, but  Mr. Daniels proved that it a rich story with the backdrop of gritty blue collared midwestern city could be as fascinating as reading a novel.  That book is not the subject of today's blog. The book to be discussed is the one  Mr. Daniels edited and suggested to add to the library's collection.    Challenges to The Dream:  The Best of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Writing  Awards at Carnegie Mellon Univeristy is an anthology of works from young writers who  speak about struggles with racism in today's complex world.  It wasn't a surprise to find that this book was as enjoyable as his award winning poetry. 

    A little back ground is needed on how this book came about.  Every year since, 1999  Carnegie Mellon Univeristy  hosts a poetry and prose writing contest inviting Pittsburgh area high school and college students to write about race.  It is hoped that the contest will encourage young writers to write honestly and openly about race.  Hopefully these submissions can open the path to breaking down the barriers of differences and allowing for constructive conversation.   The writers come from all walks of life and the emotions expressed here are raw.  The point of view raised here is new to those who lived through the days of Martin Luther Kings peaceful marches and believe that much has changed for the better.  Has it?  From younger voices they view "race"  the same as the 60's generation but yet different enough to ask questions on whether or not society has changed that much. 

    This analogy can be read as a book, reading each prose and poem, one after the other.  However,  that is not the recommend way to handle this book.  It is far better to pick out a prose or poem randomly and enjoy it on its own.   Don't read another entry for another day or two, because the reader will want to fully take in and enjoy listening and meeting each writer through their work. In this way, the reader will discover their favorite entry and perhaps go back to it time and again.    These entries provided wonderful points for discussion with high school and college students.  In my opinion, this is the best tool of the book.  The opportunity to open to the younger generation  about race, gender,  biases and struggles everyone faces when trying to realize the dreams of Martin Luther King Jr.  

    For educators, parents or librarians are looking for a book that will help with race discussions and what it means to be have a society that "looks at the content of character,  not the color of skin",  Challenges to the Dream will help begin the discussion.    At this time,  Mr. Daniels is still teaching at Carnegie Mellon University and still writing.  It is well worth the time to look up his work.  This anthology is available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other online sites as well.