Intermediate & Middle School Activity
We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices (2019 Jane Addams Children’s Book Award Honor Title for Older Chidren) is an empowering anthology that encourages resilience when “the world feels upside down.” Budding social activists looking for inspiration and ways to rise up, resist the status quo, and raise their voices in harmony as they seek to change the world will find plenty of inspiration in the thirty different pieces featured here. Written by diverse authors, the poems, essays, stories and letters, many portraying personal struggles, reflect a universal portrait of humanity. Intensified by the unique artwork of twenty-two artists, each page celebrates diversity and shines a light on life’s daily complexities.
WATCH AND LISTEN AS EDITORS WADE HUDSON AND CHERYL WILLIS HUDSON EXPLAIN THE ORIGINS OF THIS BOOK
THEN, VIEW WADE & CHERYL ACCEPTING THE JANE ADDAMS CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD AND HEAR WADE READ HIS POEM, ‘WHAT SHALL I TELL YOU?’ FROM THE BOOK
NEXT, LISTEN TO ALISON READ A POEM BY MARILYN NELSON, ‘IT HELPS TO LOOK AT OLD FRONT PAGE HEADLINES’
AND FINALLY, READ ANOTHER POEM FROM THE ANTHOLOGY, ‘A TALKIN’ TO’ BY JASON REYNOLDS, ILLUSTRATED BY ANDREA PIPPIN
Now Let’s Get to Next Steps!
Guiding questions for your reading, writing, thinking and acting:
- The Hudsons invited writers and artists to share inspriation and encouragement during challenging times, when inequality, disrespect, racism, and hatred seem to be on the rise. Wade said, “respect for others, like a delicious ice cream bar dripping on holding fingers, tastes better than contempt.” Marilyn said, “things fall apart, no doubt, but good people wake every day to thank and ask what they can do today.” And Jason said, “everything bad and frightening and loud/will always hide when you hold your head up/will always hide when you hold your heart out/will always sing a shrinking song/when you fly.” What do you say? What do you say to yourself when you feel discouraged by meaness and unfairness in the world? Go back and listen and read again the poems if you like. It is fair to borrow inspiriation, but do write words of inspiration for yourself, maybe illustrate them as well. Post them on your wall so you can see them everyday. You are welcome to share your inspiration in our comment section (comments will be approved & posted within 24 yours) or on social media #socialjusticelearnanddo
- We are in further challenging times with the coronavirus in our midst! The last lines of Jason’s poem seem especially apropos. It is indeed time to hold our heads up and our hearts out! What words of encouragement can you offer to others in your world today? A family member, a friend— in person, online. Raise your voice for the benefit of someone you know. What will you say that will bring them comfort and inspiriation? Think it through, what would be most helpful? And then go for it! You might find yourself encouraged in the process! You are welcome to share your experience of this actvity in our comment section below (comments will be approved & posted within 24 yours) or on social media #socialjusticelearnanddo.
We look forward to hearing from you!