One of my favorite things about my university’s library is its generosity. As it is excruciatingly old, from time to time it decides to rid itself of its multitude of outdated material. Every once in a while, when you walk in to crank out a paper, you might pass by a cart stacked from bottom to top with books, primarily related to the parenting, ministry or both. However, sometimes the free book cart contains other material. Today on my journey into distraction, I found that the library was giving away some illustrated children’s books. Per usual, I decided my backpack had enough room. I found some fun copies of fairy tales, books teaching children about the world and, of course, some illustrated Bible stories. As I excitedly opened the “Children’s Old and New Testaments,” I physically winced at the bright white skin I saw on the faces of Adam and Eve. In almost a morbid curiosity, I flipped farther ahead, and my suspicions were confirmed. There, before my very eyes, was a white-skinned, red-haired Jesus Christ.
What’s wrong with “white Jesus,” you might ask? Christianity is a global religion! Is it not best expressed in an artistic sense through a multicultural lens? In fact, if you were to step into the office of John Brown University’s intercultural studies professor, you might see on her walls art representing Bible stories in a Picasso-esque style with a Chinese flair. This is the work of He Qi, a Chinese artist and theologian who has sought to combine his culture with his training and understanding of Scripture. For generations, as formerly colonized countries have come forth in claiming Christianity as their very own, their artists have similarly taken ownership of Biblical narratives by portraying them as appropriate to their cultural contexts. As early as the 1970s, Christian artistry has arisen from Malawi, Puerto Rico, native New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, portraying the Madonna and Child, Nativity scenes, Adoration of the Magi and more.
As Christianity spread through Europe and retained its claim for generations, a wealth of Eurocentric Christian art has been produced. This fits within the pattern of cultural claims to Christianity. As the faith spreads, depictions of Scripture and Christ Himself are made to resemble the culture which it now bears. If this is all true, then why negate the existence of “white Jesus”? Is his existence not an extension of the European claim to the Christian faith?
If there is one characteristic that Christ was certain to take on in his human form, it was lowliness. “For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45, NRSV). Jesus walked on this earth as a humble servant and poor teacher who was inevitably put to death by the political powers of the time. Even his ethnic identity as a Jew put him at a lower social rung than most in his ancient Roman context. Jesus Christ was not associated with social or earthly power. He possessed none of it whatsoever. However, his modern-day followers of European descent, especially in the United States, do possess said power. America was founded upon a race-based hierarchy, with Black, brown and Indigenous people at the bottom, topped off with none other than white people. After years of oppression, slavery and outright genocide, with a multitude of legislation attempting to make up for what had been stolen, to this day a power distance remains.
Generational wealth has been gained by white Americans, extending back even to times when many of their ancestors were slaveholders. Black Americans are unabashedly behind, often confined to a lower-class status due to their lack of a head start. Native Americans, having been ripped from their ancestral land, live on pathetic reservations which are far from comfortable or quality living. The cultural consciousness of the average American favors whiteness and looks down on or feels threatened by Black, brown, and Indigenous citizens. To me, it is undeniably clear that in the United States, whiteness is power. It is privilege. As Americans look upon this lover of us all, Jesus Christ, through the lens of whiteness, we are sorting him into our own social structure. He receives the benefit of white power and privilege and is placed at a distance from his followers of color. For Americans to truly understand the character of Jesus Christ, we must see him through our social cultural context. He was not white. He was Indigenous. He was Black. He was downtrodden, oppressed and impoverished.
To love this image of Jesus is to love the weary and downcast of our world, and to truly wear the desires of his own heart. “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40, NRSV).
Amid myriad news reports yesterday that Virginia Thomas, wife of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, was (and remains) a leading member of a conservative group that sought to discredit Joe Biden’s victories over President Donald Trump in the 2020 election aftermath, the question that begs asking is: “Should Clarence Thomas resign from office?”
Well, as I learned during my very first day of law school orientation many years ago, the simple answer is: “it depends.”
To make it plain, I have known for the better part of two decades that the entire concept of “non-partisan” judges is somewhat of a sham. Meaning, judges are privately political the same as every other American, even if they can’t publicly advocate on behalf of Democratic or Republican candidates or policies. But there is a reason that when it comes to judicial selections that presidents and governors nominate judges that share the same ideological bent; recent President Barack Obama would not have selected qualified conservatives Brett Kavanaugh, Neil Gorsuch, or Amy Coney Barrett, no more than former President Trump would have selected qualified moderate or progressive jurists like Merrick Garland or Ketanji Brown Jackson.
So the issue that must be squared is whether Virginia Thomas has used her current position as a leader of the Council for National Policy to impact any cases or controversies that her husband, Justice Thomas, has or must render a legal opinion? Thus, the “it depends” language because while the 2020 election cases didn’t reach full hearings or decisions that may have compelled Justice Thomas to recuse himself, recent events are far more sketchy—and the source of Thomas’s current scrutiny.
Specifically, all of the major media outlets yesterday, including the NY Times, noted that Virginia Thomas: “co-signed a letter in December calling for House Republicans to expel Representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger from their conference for joining the Jan. 6 committee. Thomas and her co-authors said the investigation ‘brings disrespect to our country’s rule of law’ and ‘legal harassment to private citizens who have done nothing wrong,’ adding that they would begin ‘a nationwide movement to add citizens’ voices to this effort.’”
Ordinarily, there would be nothing wrong with Virginia Thomas signing such a letter per her official position within the organization but with one exception—she had to know that issues surrounding the January 6th MAGA Riots, and whether to release records from the Trump White House about those riots, would eventually make its way to her husband’s desk…which it did…with the Supreme Court ruling 8-1 to release the records.
The one “no” vote in dissent? None other than Virginia’s hubby, Justice Clarence Thomas!
What renders Justice Thomas’s refusal to recuse odd is that each of the three conservatives that Trump appointed, the aforementioned Kavanaugh, Gorsuch, and Coney-Barrett, voted with the entire court to release the records. One must not be a brilliant legal scholar to realize that a former president no longer holds executive privilege to block such records, which is why the ENTIRE Court ruled to release them—except for Thomas. Which leads to the legitimate question as to whether his legally flawed “no” vote was in support of his wife’s position?
Well, only Justice Thomas can know the basis of his decision, but what is crystal clear is that Thomas violated one of the oldest judicial canons that’s repeated time and again by judges in the field, which is that a judge “is to avoid even the appearance of impropriety.” Nevertheless, like most things within the legal profession, how discipline is meted when impropriety occurs from a jurist depends greatly upon the whims of those making the decision!
Which makes me circle back to the original hot topic, “should Clarence Thomas resign?” I think that he very well should, but I have read enough of his legal opinions, public speeches, biographies, and his autobiography “My Grandfather’s Son” to know that he is a tough and ornery man who will not admit fault in any way, shape, or form.
Knowing that Thomas will not resign, that would only leave impeachment as a route to remove him from office. But the reality is that only one Supreme Court Justice, Samuel Chase, has ever been impeached—and that was way back in 1805 during the Thomas Jefferson administration. Even then, Chase was acquitted in the Senate and held his position.
Similarly, with the Senate divided along partisan lines, there is no way on Earth that a super-majority of Senators would vote to remove Thomas, especially with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell routinely praising him as the most brilliant justice on the current court.
So no, Justice Thomas will remain in office until he retires or passes away—while the rest of us are reminded that hubris in the highest levels of government remains painfully unchecked in the modern era.
Black History Hobbservations: Homer Plessy
In 1896, when Homer Plessy challenged the new racial caste system that forbade Blacks from sitting alongside whites on trains, the United States Supreme Court held that such “Jim Crow” laws were constitutional. By so doing, the Supreme Court ensured that within a decade, no Blacks held high elected office anywhere in the South, that Black voting became a nullity, and that Black businesses were either eliminated outright—or directly controlled by white “benefactors.”
But who was the plaintiff, Mr. Plessy?
Homer Plessy was born on March 17, 1862 in New Orleans to Joseph Adolphe Plessy and Rosa Debergue, both of whom were Creole. Plessy’s grandfather, Germain, was a white Frenchman who fled Saint-Domingue in the early days of General Toussaint L’Ouverture’s revolution in Haiti. The elder Plessy settled in New Orleans and married Catherine Mathieu—a free Black woman—and together they had eight children (including Joseph Plessy, Homer’s father).
As a young adult, Homer Plessy became a shoemaker by trade and supplemented his income as a postal clerk and an insurance agent. In 1887, as Louisiana, like most of its former Confederate sister states, began drafting laws that usurped Black rights under the 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution, Plessy joined and became Vice President of the “Justice, Protective, Educational, and Social Club,” a group that unsuccessfully challenged the segregation of Orleans Parish public schools. Indeed, Louisiana schools had become segregated after Reconstruction despite a provision in the Louisiana state constitution that prohibited the establishment of separate schools on the basis of race.
Plessy’s journey into American historical infamy would begin on June 7, 1892, when he presented to the Press Street Depot in New Orleans, bought a first-class ticket to Covington, and boarded the East Louisiana Railroad’s Number 8 train. Plessy knew that the nascent segregation customs would compel the train’s conductors to force him off the train—or get himself arrested (or both). In a scene that would be replicated decades later by Rosa Parks in Montgomery, Alabama, the train conductor asked Plessy, a fair skinned Black man who could have passed for white (but was unapologetically Black), whether he was “Colored.” After boldly replying “yes,” the Conductor demanded that Plessy move to the “Colored” car and when Plessy refused, he was dragged off the train and thrown into jail.
The next morning, Plessy was charged with violating Louisiana’s “Separate Car Act” and his lawyers moved to dismiss on the grounds that the law violated the 14th Amendment’s provision of equal justice regardless of race. After the motion was denied, his lawyers appealed the decision to the Louisiana Supreme Court, one that upheld the lower court’s decision. Thus, the stage was set for an appeal to the United States Supreme Court, one that ultimately held that Louisiana’s “Separate Car Act” was constitutional because it provided “separate but equal” accommodations to white and Black passengers alike. This decision, as referenced above, gave Southern states full authority to segregate on account of race —an authority that would remain legally intact until 1954, when the Brown vs. Board of Education case overturned this ignominious precedent.
As for Plessy, after suffering defeat in the United States Supreme Court, he paid the $25 fine and spent the rest of his life quietly working as a laborer and insurance salesman until his death in 1925 in Metairie, Louisiana.
Black College Feature
Each day during Black History Month, I will feature one of America’s leading HBCUs.
Next up: Meharry Medical College
History: Meharry Medical College was founded in 1876 in Nashville, Tennessee, following a generous gift from Samuel Meharry, a Scot-Irish immigrant who had been helped by a formerly enslaved family when his wagon broke down while traveling through the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The college was established by the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Freedman’s Aid Society that year as the Medical Department of Central Tennessee College, with the school’s express purpose being the provision of medical training for the formerly enslaved.
In 1886, the school expanded to include a Dental Department, and a Pharmacy Department was added in 1889.
In 1900, Central Tennessee College changed its name to Walden University in honor of John Morgan Walden, a bishop of the Methodist Church who had often ministered to the formerly enslaved. In 1915, the medical department faculty of Walden University received a separate charter as Meharry Medical College which included the departments of pharmacy and dentistry. The Medical College remained in its original buildings, while Walden University moved to another campus in Nashville.
In 1952, Dr. Harold D. West became Meharry’s first Black president, and under his leadership, the campus expanded and a new wing was added to Hubbard Hospital.
Academics: Meharry students may earn professional and graduate degrees within the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Allied Health Professions and Graduate Studies and Research. Meharry is also home to an Asthma Disparities Center, the Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neurosciences, the Center for Women’s Health Research, a Clinical Research Center, the Export Center for Health Disparities, and the Meharry Center for Health Disparities Research in HIV
Meharry also partners with several HBCUs to provide a BS/MD program. These universities include Alabama A&M University, Albany State University, Fisk University, Grambling State University, Jackson State University, Southern University, and Tennessee State University.
Meharry is among the top five producers of Black PhD’s in America, and holds the distinction of having educated 41 percent of Black dentists in the country.
Meharry is home to numerous student groups ranging from the NAACP to the Gospel Choir. Divine Nine Black Greek Letter Organizations represented on campus include the Kappa Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Chi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Delta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and the Kappa Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
Motto: “Worship of God Through Service to Mankind”
Famous Alumni/Figures: Former Meharry President and US Surgeon General David Satcher; Dr. Hastings Banda, former President of Malawi, Dr. Audrey Manley, first Black to serve as Assistant Surgeon General; Dr. Robert Walter Johnson, former coach of tennis legend Althea Gibson; Dr. Walter Tucker, former Mayor of Compton, CA. Dr. Willie Adams, Mayor of Albany, Ga.; Dr. Charles Wright—Founder of the Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit, MI; Dr. Dorothy Brown, first Black woman admitted to American College of Surgeons; Dr. Huda Zoghbi, geneticist, winner of the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences; Minnesota State Rep. Alice Mann, MD; Dr. Conrad Murray, physician convicted of manslaughter in the death of music legend Michael Jackson; Dr. Corey Hebert, physician, educator, journalist, Dr. E. Anthony Rankins, Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery at Providence Hospital & Founder of Rankin Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Dr. Joseph Durham, Founder- Morris College (HBCU); Dr. Charles Roman, author: “A History of Meharry Medical College.”
Thank you and please subscribe to the Hobbservation Point—have a wonderful day!
Chuck Hobbs is a freelance journalist who won the 2010 Florida Bar Media Award and has been twice nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary.
“Like all the best families, we have our share of eccentricities, of impetuous and wayward youngsters, and of family disagreements.” – Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth the Second of the United Kingdom, leader of the 54-member independent countries that make up the Commonwealth in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, and the Pacific, is arguably the most powerful woman in the world. On June 2, 2022, the British Monarch already having sailed into history on several other rounds, is the fourth longest-serving monarch, head of state and government, and in a democracy. She is celebrating 70 years of being on the throne since 1953 when she was crowned Queen.
Queen Elizabeth II
But Elizabeth was not on the line to be the Monarch of the former sea power and greatest empire in pre-World War II years. Her uncle King Edward VIII, for love, abdicated his royal position to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson in 1936. Elizabeth’s father was crowned King George VI and thrust his daughter on the path to being Queen, a fate that propelled her to rule and in an era women spent over 50 years wedging sticks in the glass ceiling. Queen Elizabeth II is on the other side of the ceiling, seated comfortably, ordering both men and women, redirecting the course of events, effortlessly commanding love and respect from her staff, children and relatives, world leaders, and the ordinaries (whether in the UK or around the world).
As head of the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth is head of a community of countries that has 2.5 billion citizens, with more than 60 percent aged 29 or under. The Leaders of member countries shape Commonwealth policies and priorities and meet every two years at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.
There is a lot that can be written about the soft-spoken Queen Elizabeth II, who married Phillip Mountbatten in 1947 in a colorful wedding that drew 100,000 outside the Buckingham Palace Mall and 200 million watching on television. But what is globally fascinating is that there are probably truckloads of pictures of Elizabeth and Philip, who was crowned the Duke of Edinburgh, smiling, or chuckling at each other.
Despite the miles and miles of floor and wallpaper stories that can be written about her, celebrating the gallantry, courage, stoicism, and pure statesperson-hood that has been embodied in Queen Elizabeth II of the House of Windsor, a comment will be made on four of these. Whatever else may be said about her, she is first to talk strongly and passionately about her faith; she is a bible-reading and praying Christian, takes seriously the values of her faith, and is guided by them in all she does.
1. From colonial power to Commonwealth of Nations. — By the time of her coronation, Great Britain, once a naval power and commanding the largest colonial footprint that spanned from the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Pacific islands including Australia and New Zealand. From losing its place as a superpower, Britain within a decade of her becoming Queen was losing its empire as colony after colony untangled itself from the clutches of the colonial ruler and gained independence. As colonies became independent they sent in applications to the Commonwealth of Nations. The 54-member organization has a combined population of 2.4 billion, which is almost a third of the world’s population, of whom 1.21 billion live in India, and 95% live in Asia and Africa combined.
2.Women rule long in British monarch. – Of the world’s three female long-reigning monarchs, Queen Elizabeth is the longest-reigning at 70 years. Her great Grandmother Queen Victoria reigned for 64 years, and Queen Wilhelmina I of The Netherlands reigned for 58 years. The remarkable trait of the two British Queens is that while Victoria left a legacy of strict morality stranglehold on her subjects in and outside Britain, Elizabeth’s reign has been during an era where women have for over half a century strained to get recognition, fight for a place at the table, crack the viciously hard glass ceiling, or champion equality with male counterparts. Elizabeth has been at the table, sitting on the glass ceiling and due to the abdication of an uncle was thrust through the ceiling and managed to grasp the power thrust at her, her charismatic nature leading to the whole world embracing her as its Queen.
3.Strong family riddled with scandals and globally-felt painful tragedies. – The picture of Queen Elizabeth and her husband, the late Duke of Edinburgh, married for 73 years was the proverbial prince and princess fairy tale. The tale was lived writ large in front of a global platform that through the years moved from telegrams and radios to television, then social media portals such as Facebook, Instagram, and Zoom. What used to be hidden from public eyes, became globally visible to a wide audience. Regrettably, three of Queen Elizabeth’s children experienced a divorce. Her own sister, the late Princess Margaret finally married, but not before a long affair with a married man. Charles divorced his highly popular wife, Princess Diana after the room got crowded with his affair with the married Camila. His ex-wife Diana moved on to an affair with an Egyptian film producer Dodi Fayed. His brother Andrew divorced Fergie after infidelity; however, in 2021 Prince Andy was stripped of his royal title after being accused of paying a minor for sex. Other scandals on the heel of scandals emerged when after marrying his princess, Harry and African American princess hear the Brits wondered loudly (what! No more stiff upper lips!?) how dark his child would be. Prince Harry, like his grand uncle, gave up royalty and took his family across the Atlantic. He did not want to experience what his mother went through.
4.Other long reigns. – There are 25 long-reigning monarchs, with King Sobhuza of Swaziland (now known as Eswatini) ruled from age of four months until his death, reigning for 82 years.
I. Sobhuza II, Swaziland (Eswatini) (1899-1982), 82 years
II. Louis XIV, France (1643-1715), 72 years
III. Bhumibol Adulyadej, Thailand (1946-2016), 70 years
IV. Elizabeth II, England (1952-present), 70 years … and counting
V. Johan II, Liechtenstein (1858-1929), 70 years
VI. K’inich Janaab’ Pakal, Mayan Civilization (615-683 C.E.), 68 years
VII. Franz Joseph I, Austria-Hungary (1848-1916), 68 years
VIII. Constantine VIII, Byzantine Empire (960-1028 C.E.), 68 years
IX. Victoria, England (1837-1901), 64 years
X. James I, Aragon (1213-1276), 63 years
XI. Hirohito, Japan (1926-1989), 63 years
XII. Kangxi Emperor, China (1661-1722), 61 years
XIII. Christian IV, Denmark and Norway (1588-1648), 60 years
XIV. Friedrich Günther, Schwarzburg, Germany (1807-1867), 60 years
XV. Qianlong, China (1735-1796), 60 years
XVI. Honoré III, Monaco (1733-1793), 59 years
XVII. George III, England (1760-1820), 59 years
XVIII. Honoré I, Monaco (1523-1581), 58 years
XIX. Nicholas I, Montenegro (1860-1918), 58 years
XX. Pedro II, Brazil (1831-1889), 58 years
XXI. Wilhelmina I, Netherlands (1890-1948), 58 years
XXII. Ludovico I, Italy (1416-1475), 58 years
XXIII. Louis XV, France (1715-1774), 58 years
XXIV. James VI, Scotland (1567-1625), 57 years
XXV. Athelstan, England (895-939 C.E.), 44 years
Queen Elizabeth II was thrust into the monarchy when her uncle abdicated the throne to marry his love, leaving his brother George VI to take over. Elizabeth found herself to be Queen when her father suddenly died. From there, she has become the face of leadership, and pictures of world leaders fawning over her are uplifting.
It is an uplifting fairy tale in real-time. Congratulations Your Royal Majesty and God save the Queen!
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The Detroit Free Press asked Michigan educators across the state about the books they’re assigning in class, and the significance of those books. Here’s how they answered:
Why: “(It) gives perspective from African Americans in real-time situations on what some of our kids are seeing on social media. Must read.”
“Bloodchild” by Octavia Butler
Name: Chris Jones
School: Success Virtual Learning Centers of Michigan
Why: “This is actually a short story: ‘Bloodchild’ by Octavia Butler. Although Ms. Butler wrote many great novels, this story seems to capture the attention and imagination of high school students.”
“The House on Mango Street” by Sandra Cisneros
Name: Kim Sawyer
School: Edwardsburg Public Schools, Edwardsburg
Why: “‘The House on Mango Street’ by Sandra Cisneros is a poetic vignette with coming of age theme offering glimpses of insight, growing pains, triumph, understanding, and especially a love for family/community/self.”
“We Are Water Protectors” by Carole Lindstrom and illustrated by Michaela Goade
Name: Nichole Biber
School: Robert L. Green Elementary School, East Lansing
Why: “I take care of the library at Robert L. Green Elementary School in East Lansing. For the children, I love to read ‘We Are Water Protectors,’ which was also last year’s Caldecott Winner. I so very much appreciate how this book places our indigenous traditions (I am a tribal citizen of the LTBB Odawa) as a contemporary reality, underscoring how our activism in defense of water and life is inseparable from our commitment to cultural and spiritual teachings and practices.”
“I am enough” by Grace Byers
Name: Theresa Coleman
School: Not specified
Why: “My favorite book to read is ‘I am enough’ by Grace Byers. This book is full of positive affirmations. It also sends the message of acceptance of others even if they are different than you are.”
“Shades of Black” by Sandra and Myles Pinkney
Name: Janet Bohn,
School: Coleman Elementary School, Coleman
Why: “One of the reasons I love this picture book is that it helps children and myself discover that black is not black, it can be ivory all the way to ebony. So that we can start the discussion that everyone has a different shade of color – be it hair, eyes, or skin. I think it is a great beginner book. I also use it in my Kinder and first grade classroom.”
“Bud, Not Buddy” by Christopher Paul Curtis
Name: Julie Brehmer
School: Literacy consultant with Michigan Department of Education
Why: “I love ‘Bud, Not Buddy’…The students thought it was so great that he’s a Michigan author!”
“Amazing Grace” by Mary Hoffman
Name: Traci Elizabeth Teasley
School: Michigan Department of Education
Why: “I always read ‘Amazing Grace’ by Mary Hoffman to my first and third grade students to teach self-confidence and dispel stereotypes of what African American and young girls can do.”
“When Stars are Scattered” by Victoria Jamieson
Name: Taylor Sandweg
School: Dearborn Public Schools, Dearborn
Why: “I am a fifth grade teacher in Dearborn. I have the bilingual fifth grade section, meaning all of the newcomers to the country, voluntary or refugee, come to my classroom. This year we were so fortunate to have been able to purchase several copies of and read ‘When Stars are Scattered’. This true story was near to everyone’s hearts for a few reasons.
One, the characters are Muslim and talk about Islam and say some Arabic words, which although the options are increasing, is still an underrepresented population in popular children’s literature. Two, the characters are refugees, fleeing a war in Somalia, which many of my students were able to relate to the war in Yemen, or their own refugee experience. And finally, it’s a graphic novel! I feel so fortunate that amazing, true stories such as this one are being written for kids.”
“Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury and “Twelve Angry Men” a play by Reginald Rose
Name: Mark Palise
School: Dearborn High School, Dearborn
Why: “My seniors will be reading ‘Fahrenheit 451’ and ‘Twelve Angry Men. Why those books? Because they were written by a pair of prophets in the 50s and couldn’t be more relevant today.”
“The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer
Name: Allison Wolski
School: Bryant Middle School, Dearborn
Why: “All my classes love to read! One of the books we read together this year was: ‘The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind’ by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer. William’s memoir tells of a story of courage and perseverance in Malawi! It was an instant classic book and the students loved discussing it!”
“Seedfolks” by Paul Fleiscman and “Aaron’s Gift” by Myron Levoy
Name: Josh Melvin
School: Stout Middle School, Dearborn
Why: “My 6th graders at Stout Middle School read ‘Seedfolks by Paul Fleiscman’ as a class to begin the year. I focused on this because it has themes of people from different cultures coming together in one neighborhood for a common purpose. What better way to start the year with kids from four elementaries all becoming Stout Falcons?
From our textbook, we also read ‘Aaron’s Gift,’ by Myron Levoy. It’s the story of a boy seeking to fit in, who endangers himself and his pet. It mirrors his grandmother’s experience with Cossack Pogroms at the turn of the 20th century. The 10-year-old protagonist learns lessons about peer pressure, standing up for what’s right, and how to sacrifice to protect the vulnerable.
In addition, students have required reading during class and for homework in a book of their choice. Many students this year are loving the ‘InvestiGators’ series, ‘The Babysitters Club,’ and classics like ‘A Child Called It’ and prolific authors like J.K. Rowling, Alan Gratz, and Lauren Tarshis.”
“Legend” by Marie Lu
Name: Derrick Borg
School: Bryant Middle School, Dearborn
Why: “Our seventh graders will be reading a novel called ‘Legend’ by Marie Lu in the spring. We’ve read it as a class novel over the last several years and our kids love it… The plot is great, the characters are fun, and it has some plot twists.”
“Shiloh” by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, “Because of Winn Dixie” by Kate DiCamillo and “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” by C.S. Lewis
Name: Alia Jaber
School: Henry Ford Elementary School, Dearborn
Why: “I really felt like the students missed out on a lot of great books over the last two years. There are some books (classics) that should be read in elementary school.
I decided to get the students excited about these texts… Some books we have read together are: ‘Shiloh,’ ‘Because of Winn Dixie’ and we will start ‘Narnia: The Lion Witch and the Wardrobe.’ Students are reading on their own books like: ‘Call of the Wild,’ ‘Black Beauty,’ ‘Dear Mr Henshaw,’ ‘Frindle,’ and ‘Magic Tree House.’”
“To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
Name: Jenny Nate
School: Niles High School, Niles
Why: “My favorite book to assign is Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ and free-choice novels. I love ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ because the themes and characters are timeless. The book encompasses adventure, struggles, coming of age, prejudices (various types including race, religion, gender, socioeconomic, family history, demographics, etc.), friendship, trust, socioeconomic challenges, relationships, loyalty, trust, good vs. evil, love, religion, and offers a plethora of positive lessons.
The characters are believable, vulnerable, authentic, and relatable. Novel discussions generated by the themes and plot in this book give us a safe platform in our classroom to discuss challenges from that time period that we all still face today. This also offers my students an opportunity to listen to various voices and perspectives on the topics and issues raised so that we can all continue to learn and grow in the same ways as the novel’s dynamic characters. Then, we reflect and share our own thoughts, experiences, and ideas on the topics.
Over the past 19 years, my students’ reactions to the text have been positive, emotional, and passionate. They make personal connections to many of the characters and themes, and I am impressed at their ability to respect each other’s comments and take-aways as we work our way through the novel together.”
“The Outsiders” by S.E. Hinton and “Romeo & Juliet” by William Shakespeare
Name: Teresa Harrington
School: Harbor Lights Middle School, Holland
Why: “I love teaching ‘The Outsiders’ to my English 8 students because they are immediately drawn into the conflicts. I seldom have discipline problems in my room during this unit because the students are eager to find out what happens next and interact with the text. Especially poignant is Ponyboy’s recitation of ‘Nothing Gold Can Stay’ with its layers of symbolism that speak volumes regarding the theme of the novel.
I also enjoy teaching ‘Romeo & Juliet’ to my ninth grade English class because it teaches my advanced readers to think about their reading strategies again. Besides, it gives me a chance to share ‘Mrs. Harrington’s Dating Tips 101’ which usually brings groans and eye rolls and nervous giggles. We end the unit with a eulogy activity during which the students practice point of view and get wildly creative paying respects to the dearly departed in the text.
In both texts, students enjoy arguing various points of view. They learn to see a situation from multiple angles and how our actions impact others.
It doesn’t really surprise me, but I never fail to be awed by their ability to personally connect with the text. Students at the 8th grade level have a strong sense of justice. They can get very critical about character motivations and like to consider other ways to resolve the conflicts.”
“The Giver” by Lois Lowry
Name: Lee Schopp
School: Harbor Lights Middle School, Holland
Why: This is a great book about rules a government creates trying to create a perfect society. In the unit, we discuss that rules and rituals can’t create a perfect society because people aren’t perfect and can’t be controlled. There are many parallels to this text and our current world climate (government, pandemic, responses in situations, etc).
Students have great reactions and strong opinions. We have great discussions regarding what rules and laws are good. We also discuss a lot about what equality means compared to fair.”
“Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston, “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas, “The 57 Bus” by Dashka Slater, “I’m Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter” by Erika Sánchez, “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald and “American Street” by Ibi Zoboi
Name: Margaret Grossnickle
School: Kettering High School, Waterford Township
Why: “My favorite book to work through with students is ‘Their Eyes Were Watching God.’ The language is rich and deep and beautiful; every year students discover a new layer to the text as they analyze the language. It is a book that engages students as it immerses them in a time period and culture different from their own, but also is so relatable in the way that Janie fights for the things every human wants: love, independence, and a sense of belonging. When I taught language arts for juniors, my favorite unit was one focused on the American Dream and the ways that people strive to achieve that dream for themselves and others. It was a literature circle unit and students were able to choose between books like ‘The Hate U Give,’ ‘The 57 Bus,’ ‘I’m Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter,’ ‘The Great Gatsby,’ and ‘American Street.’ This unit sparked more meaningful conversations than any other texts I taught. Students were engaged in the stories of the characters and invested in learning about different communities and the challenges that are faced in the quest for the lifestyle that so many Americans desire.”
“Ghost Boys” by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Name: Stephanie Hampton
School: Maple Street Magnet School for the Arts, Kalamazoo
Why: “Currently, my sixth-grade class is reading ‘Ghost Boys’ by Jewell Parker Rhodes… I also frequently recommend this book to other teachers, students, and families. ‘Ghost Boys’ follows the mantra ‘Only the living can make the world better. Live and make it better’… You finish the book having a sense of direction. You know where to go from here. Young readers are pulled to this book again and again as they begin to contextualize and understand big society issues like racism, police brutality, and coming to terms with the past to reconcile with the present.”
“Fences” by August Wilson
Name: Jeff Kass
School: Pioneer High School, Ann Arbor
Why: “I give students lots of reading time to read books of their choosing, but also do teach whole class works. At the moment, we’re reading August Wilson’s play ‘Fences,’ which is one of my favorite things to teach because it focuses on family dynamics, father-son relationships, and forgiveness. I also enjoy teaching Bernard Malamud’s ‘The Natural’ and William Golding’s ‘Lord of the Flies.'”
Food Tank is highlighting 18 feature-length documentaries and shows to excite and inspire eaters. Dig into the story behind some of your favorite chefs, learn about the importance of regenerative farming practices, or watch a series that takes a new look at culinary traditions. These films provide new perspectives on food that is both educational and entertaining. And with coverage of award-winning chefs, authors, filmmakers, and activists, there’s something for everyone.
André & His Olive Tree follows the famed Taiwan-born chef, André Chiang. In 2018 Chiang made the decision to close his esteemed restaurant, Restaurant André,shocking his staff, family, friends, and the greater culinary world. The film follows Chiang as he walks away from the Michelin-star restaurant he dedicated his life to and captures the chef’s perspective on what it means to be successful. Watch it on Netflix.
David Chang, the American chef, author, and food critic hosts a four-part documentary series exploring the food culture of cities from Los Angeles to Marrakesh. In each episode, a celebrity chef joins to experience the essence of these food metropoles. This series uncovers surprising aspects of global food while revealing the lives of the hosts themselves. Watch it on Netflix.
This documentary series takes viewers on a culinary journey across China. Each season highlights a different region of the country along with that region’s traditional cooking techniques and ingredients. With 12-minute episodes, each dedicated to a single food, the show strives to shed light on the nuances of Chinese cuisine. Watch it on Netflix.
Directed by the James Beard Award winning filmmaker Sanjay Rawal, “Gather” follows Native American individuals working to reclaim their spiritual, political, and cultural identities through food sovereignty. Stories include a chef working to reclaim his tribe’s ingredients and a high school student demonstrating the nutritional significance of buffalo. While the documentary outlines the destruction and historical trauma caused by centuries of genocide, it also tells a story of resilience and innovation. Watch it on Netflix.
Generation Growth tells the story of Bronx educator, Stephen Ritz, and his mission to transform the lives of low-income students across the United States through gardening. Originally launched in the Bronx, Ritz’s indoor gardening curriculum, Green Bronx Machine, expands around the country, teaching students how to grow vegetables in the classroom. Embraced by children of all ages, the program has helped create opportunities for youth, while teaching them about the power of food. Learn how to watch it here.
In this docuseries, chef and writer Stephen Satterfield tells the history of African Americans’ influence on American cuisine. This four-part series highlights the Black cooks and culinary traditions that have shaped American culture over the last few hundred years. This series is one of the first of its kind to celebrate and share the deep roots of Black culinary histories. Watch it on Netflix.
“Jeremiah Tower: The Last Magnificent” tells the story of chef Jeremiah Tower and his influence on California cuisine in the 1970s. One of the United States’ first celebrity chefs, Tower rose made a name for himself at the legendary restaurant Chez Panisse. Featuring chefs from Martha Stewart to Anthony Bourdain, experts consider Tower’s life, career, and legacy in the culinary world. Watch it on Prime Video.
“Julia” follows the life of famed chef, cooking teacher, author, and TV personality Julia Child. Known for popularizing French cuisine in the United States with her cookbook andtelevision programs, this documentary highlights Child’s influence on American culture, food, and women in the 20th century. Featuring never-before-seen footage and detailing Child’s rise to fame at the age of 50, the film tells the inspiring story of one of the country’s most beloved culinary stars. Watch it on Prime Video.
Follow the work of activists, scientists, politicians, and farmers as they strive to tackle the climate crisis through regenerative agriculture practices. This documentary, narrated by Woody Harrelson, looks at the growing interest in agricultural techniques that restore soil health and support the environment. The recipient of 42 awards, “Kiss The Ground” shares powerful insights into the promising potential of soil regeneration. Watch it on Netflix.
Told through the lens of small-scale fishermen and experts around the United States, Last Man Fishing dives into today’s fishing practices and their effect on the planet. Highlighting the struggle between corporate giants and small family fishers, this documentary questions the ethics of the industrial fishing model. And ultimately, it underscores the importance of conservation and quality in the rapidly changing seafood system. Learn how to watch it here.
This documentary profiles the life and artwork of Jim Denevan, founder ofOutstanding In The Field. Founded in 1999, Outstanding in the Field is a recurring outdoor dining event series where groups of people come together for a family-style meal on farms, vineyards, beaches, and more. “Man in the Field” offers an exciting account on Denevan’s creative and culinary pursuits through this multifaceted project. Learn how to watch it here.
In 2018, chef, writer, and television host Anthony Bourdain died by suicide at the age of 61, shocking the culinary world. The documentary film examines Bourdain’s life and career, and features chefs David Chang and Eric Ripert along with members of the production crew on Bourdain’s show “Parts Unknown.” Through interviews and archive footage, “Roadrunner” explores Bourdain’s rise to fame. Learn how to watch it here.
This American documentary series highlights some of the world’s most revered street food along with the history behind each dish and the chefs who prepare it. Volume One focuses on cities across Asia, highlighting popular dishes including banh mi, potato chaat, and okonomiyaki. In Volume Two, the show moves to Latin America, taking viewers to Buenos Aires, Oaxaca, Lima, and more. Combining archival footage with a variety of inspiring face-to-face interviews, “Street Food” sheds light on the influence of street food culture across the globe. Watch it on Netflix.
Taco Chronicles highlights the rich history and culture behind tacos. Each episode spotlights a different taco, the ingredients that comprise it, and the cultural significance of the dish. Featuring interviews with renowned food writers, food experts, and the chefs themselves, “Taco Chronicles” proves that not all tacos are created equal. Watch on Netflix.
Told through the eyes of Malawian local leader and activist, Anita Chitaya, “The Ants and the Grasshopper” is a documentary about one woman’s fight to save the planet. Making her way from Malawi to California to the White House, Chitaya works to persuade Americans that climate change is real, meeting with climate skeptics and struggling farmers along the way. An award-winning documentary by activist and bestselling writer Raj Patel, “The Ants and the Grasshopper” is a story about one woman’s fight to inspire change on both a local and global level. Learn how to watch it here.
The Last Harvest details the critical labor shortage that today’s farmers are facing in the United States. The film shares the stories of three family growers and their uncertain futures. Touching on immigration reform, food waste, and the current economic standing of the rapidly growing fresh produce industry in the U.S., this documentary offers a new perspective on the food system. Learn how to watch it here.
Award-winning environmental documentary, “The Wild,” tells the story of Bristol Bay, Alaska’s fight to protect its wild sockeye salmon population. The film examines a mining corporation’s plan to build North America’s largest open-pit copper mine directly in the world’s largest wild sockeye salmon. A follow up to 2014’s“The Breach”documentary, filmmaker Mark Titus’ latest film is an urgent call to action to save a species and an ecosystem. Watch it here.
Released in 2021, “Wolfgang” tells the inspiring life story of celebrated chef Wolfgang Puck and his journey to success. Recounting the challenges Puck faced in his early life along with his successes along the way, this documentary film provides a detailed look into the life of one of the world’s most coveted chefs. Watch it on Disney Plus.
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Thousands of Liberians marked the bicentenary of their country with a mass rally in the capital, Monrovia.
Liberia was founded by former US slaves in 1822 becoming the Continent’s first republic in 1847.
US President Joe Biden sent a presidential delegation to take part in the celebrations.
“We have made and endured 200 years of freedom and liberty and self rule and self government. After 200 years… We’re at a crossroads. We have to look at how we are going to lead our African American continent into the next 200 years” said John Henderson, an activist and descendant of freed slaves.
Between 1980 and 2003 the country was involved in a series of civil conflicts that resulted in more than 250 thousand deaths.
“We have a lot of work to do. We have fallen behind from a top producing, national gross domestic product country to the lowest producing, lowest income earning country on the continent with the richest resources. We are confident that we will turn this around” added the activist.
The civil conflicts and and an Ebola outbreak between 2013 and 2016 led the country’s economy to shrink by 90%.
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