5 Books, Movies, and Online Events Honoring Black History Month |
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In honor of Dr. Woodson’s vision for Black History Month, check out these books, movies, and events that highlight Black perspectives of history beyond what is traditionally taught in schools.
The Beautiful Struggle by Ta-Nehisi Coates, YA edition. Coates writes about his challenging relationship with his father, a Vietnam veteran and former Black Panther who thought Coates was too sensitive and lacked the focus to survive and thrive as a Black man in a turbulent, racist society. Coates talks about his novel with Nic Stone, the author of bestselling young adult novels Dear Martin and Jackpot, as well as the middle-grade Marvel Comics novel series Shuri. The event takes place online on Wednesday, February 24 at 4 P.M. PST.
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One Night in Miami, directed by Regina King, tells the story of Cassius Clay (later known as Muhammed Ali) and the night he upset Sonny Liston to win the world heavyweight boxing championship in 1964. It goes on to imagine a conversation about the civil rights movement between Clay, Malcolm X, Jim Brown, and Sam Cooke. Streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
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Not Just Black History, but Black People in History: The History of
Black History Month
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In the summer of 1915, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a University of Chicago alum with a Ph.D. in history from Harvard University, took part in a celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. He was surprised and delighted to find crowds of up to twelve thousand people waiting outside the enormous Chicago exhibit hall for a chance to see the exhibits. Inspired, he and his colleagues formed the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) to research, publicize, and celebrate Black history.
Dr. Woodson and the ASNLH announced the first ever Negro History Week in February,1926. They strategically planned the week around the birthdays of two important figures in Black history: Frederick Douglass (February 14), whose birthday had been celebrated in many Black communities since the 1890s, and Abraham Lincoln (February 12), whose birthday was celebrated by both white and Black Americans. Woodson hoped one day to expand the focus beyond the two men to highlight and uplift the achievements and contributions of all Black people. In fact, his dream was to expand Negro History Week to the entire year, and to make Black history an integral part of all history classes.
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Educator Dr. Joanie Banks-Hunt to Lead New STEAM Cohort |
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We are delighted to welcome Dr. Joanie Banks-Hunt to our board as the leader of our brand new STEAM cohort. A true lifelong learner, Dr. Banks-Hunt recently earned her Ph.D. in educational psychology with an Engineering Education Certification at Virginia Tech at the age of sixty-nine, after twenty years of teaching high school. She is also featured in a new documentary series entitled Inspire! Six Trailblazing Women Engineers Inspire the Next Generation.
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Dr. Banks-Hunt’s lifelong focus has been how to motivate young people to pursue STEAM educations and careers, and her research has shown her that a world-class STEAM program for girls of color should focus on developing the following four attitudes:
Self-efficacy: I am capable of understanding and doing challenging academic work.
Self-concept: I am an achiever; being good at STEAM is an important part of my identity.
Self-esteem: I am worthy of respect and love, and I deserve everything I achieve.
Self-reliance: I am an independent person who has a plan for achieving my goals. I take responsibility for my own growth and development.
Dr. Banks-Hunt also has extensive experience with the college admissions process. In this capacity, she noticed a glaring difference between the applications of white students and black and brown students that had nothing to do with their grades and test scores, but that was preventing black and brown students from succeeding. She will give a talk in April for parents on how to address that difference as they prepare their black and brown children for college.
We could not be more excited for the future Cinnamongirls who will grow under Dr. Banks-Hunt’s expert guidance. Recruitment for our exciting new STEM program will begin in May, so please pass along this information to any girls who might be interested, and keep an eye out for more information to come!
Additionally, if you are interested in adding your talents to our board, please send an email and resume to cinnamongirl30@me.com
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Last Chance to Register for Online Event February 16
Black Girls and Womxn Matter: Documentary Viewing
and Sister Circle Discussion
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Dream Big Fundraising Thank-you Gifts!
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Amanda Gorman Makes History |
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Most people who saw the lineup of performers on the morning of the Biden-Harris inauguration would have looked at Amanda Gorman’s name and passed right over it; by the afternoon, her name was on everyone’s lips. The twenty-two-year-old poet’s showstopping performance of her spoken word poem, “The Hill We Climb” took the nation’s collective breath away, and was arguably the most memorable moment of the entire ceremony. We salute Ms. Gorman’s incredible talent and the way she reminded the nation of the power, beauty, and brilliance of Black women.
Click here to see her interview on NPR.
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Write Your Story Cohort Master Class Digs Deep |
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Deborah Santana wears many hats: author, filmmaker, peace and justice activist, and business manager. She is the founder of Temple Tree Sanctuary, a spiritual and wellness center grounded in love and compassion, and has been a trustee for organizations such as the Smithsonian Institution and Artists for a New South Africa. Her most recent book, All The Women in My Family Sing, is a collection of short memoirs by women of color.
In her master class, Ms. Santana shared stories from her childhood and youth, noting how intertwined our lives and attitudes are with those of our parents and relatives. Telling family stories, she said, is a lot like recording history or folklore: both are rich with culture and connections; both explore the relationship between past and present, and between the individual and the community.
Memoir writing always requires deep introspection. It often requires writers to face difficult and painful moments. The Write Your Story Cohort rose to meet the challenge, which led to an emotionally intense, introspective, and incredibly rewarding class. We look forward to seeing some of these pieces develop, whether in the near future or years from now.
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Passport Book Club Cohort: Author Visit from Sayantani DasGupta |
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Cinnamongirl believes that one way to encourage girls of color to set their goals high is to give them opportunities to meet high-achieving women of color. The Passport Book Club girls had just such an opportunity at their last meeting, when they got to meet and chat with Dr. Sayantani DasGupta, the author of their January selection, The Serpent’s Secret. Dr. DasGupta is a physician, an instructor at Columbia University, and the author of the bestselling middle grade fantasy series, Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond.
Dr. DasGupta discussed the need for black and brown representation in children’s books, and reminded the girls that anyone can write a book, regardless of age, gender, race, sexuality, or religion. 6th grader Malia Walker said of the discussion that followed, “I’m a debater so I really like to compare different opinions and look at things from different perspectives . . . it was even cooler to have the author there and compare things with her . . . Now I’m thinking about writing books and what stories I’d like to tell!” We are proud of our Cinnamongirls for being prepared, thoughtful, and inquisitive, and so grateful to Dr. DasGupta for sharing her time with us. The February book selection is Twintuition: Double Vision by Tia Mowry.
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Travel Cohort Begins Research for Trip to Cartagena |
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The Cinnamongirls Travel Cohort met in late January to begin preparing for their upcoming trip to Cartagena, Colombia. Because the guiding principle of the travel cohort is education and personal growth, independent research is a huge component of the trip. With that in mind, the girls divided themselves into groups to research three categories for their next meeting: Live: what they will do from day to day while in Cartagena; History: the many layers of history: Native, Spanish, and Afro-Colombian; and Culture: the complex color culture of the city. They will present their research to each other at the February meeting in the spirit of learning and growing together. |
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Cinnamongirl Mentor Spotlight |
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Ink for the Beloved by RC Barnes (aka Robin Claire Barnes, a Cinnamogirl Write Your Story mentor)
Cinnamongirl is proud to have among our mentors many women who are talented authors in their own right. Robin Claire Barnes has been a playwright, actress, screenwriter, and movie executive at Walt Disney Pictures, a foley artist, a puppeteer—and author of three books. She is also a contributor to the anthology Death in the Drowned Lands, a collection of stories inspired by the terrifying prospects of unchecked climate change
In the central story of Ms. Barnes’s Tattoo Teller series, sixteen-year-old Bess Wynters has a strange talent: when she touches a tattoo, the ink tells her the truth behind the design. Her mother is a well-known tattoo artist, and when Bess learns about the murderous intentions of one of her mother’s clients, she must make a choice: tell the secret she’s learned, or try to prevent the tragedy before anyone has to know?
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Diversify Your Bookshelf
Our February Recommendations
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The Inaugural Youth Poet Laureate whose electrifying performance at the Biden-Harris inauguration enchanted the nation has a picture book coming out this year. As a young girl leads a cast of characters on a musical journey, they learn that they have the power to make changes—big and small—in the world, in their communities, and in themselves. (ages 0 and up)
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Winner of this year’s Coretta Scott King Author Award. ZJ’s dad, a former pro football player, is beloved by everyone in the neighborhood, as well as by fans around the country. When he starts forgetting things and is angry all the time, ZJ’s mom explains that this is because of all the head injuries he had in his football days. ZJ and his family must learn how to move forward without losing the traditions and memories of the glory days. A moving story about how professional sports take a toll on Black bodies. (for ages 10 and up)
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Winner of this year’s Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award. The title says it all. This authoritative, rhythmic picture book biography will captivate young readers with Aretha’s inspiring story. (ages 4 and up)
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This account of the life of the iconic journalist-activist who co-founded the NAACP is a must for any civil rights or history buff. Wells was born into slavery in 1862 and grew to be a formidable voice for the overlooked and downtrodden. Often overlooked and underestimated herself, Wells shone a light on the horrors of lynching, campaigned for women’s votes, and was named “a dangerous negro agitator” by the FBI. She won a posthumous Pulitzer Prize in 2020. Written by her great-granddaughter, this book has been praised as “a warm remembrance of a civil rights icon.” (Adult)
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Cinnamongirl thrives on the strength of a small board of talented individuals who love what they do. We are currently seeking an influencer personality type who has an expansive circle of contacts, who can help us grow corporate donations, and who can cultivate relationships with individuals passionate about supporting the growth and development of future women leaders of color.
If this sounds like you and you’re interested in doing meaningful and deeply rewarding work, please send a cover letter and resume to cinnamongirl30@me.com. |
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Give to Cinnamongirl Today! |
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We're inspiring girls everywhere to lead, mentor, and be the changemakers in the room. Won't you please consider a gift of any amount. 60% of our funding comes from our amazing supporters.
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When shopping Amazon, use this LINK and Amazon will donate a percent of your purchases to Cinnamongirl Inc. It’s a donation you initiate and nothing comes out of your wallet. |
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Teachers, we need your help! As educators you cross paths with future Cinnamongirls every day and that is why we are reaching out to YOU!
You can help us identify prospective Cinnamongirls who could use a platform like Cinnamongirl to support their dreams, help them develop their voice & be the leaders they were born to be.
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