Final Project Reflection

My final project focuses on African American literature. Originally, I had chosen Arab literature; however, many libraries did not have selection of diverse text. Instead I choose African American literature because my hometown library has a large variety of books to select from. I also was quickly able to research “insider” authors by searching for African American authors for children’s literature on the internet. Of these authors I choose to review Mildred Taylor’s Friendship, Angela Jackson by Smell of Roses, Lucille Clifton’s My Friend Jacob, and Valerie Flournoy’s The Patchwork Quilt.

After reading and reviewing the children’s books, I realized many connections within the African American literature I had chosen. Of the four books I chose, three of the books are from the child’s perspective. By the authors choosing to write the story from the child’s perspective, I believe it allows children to relate and understand the text better. I particularly think it allows students to better understand difficult topics such as disabilities in My Friend Jacob and segregation both in Friendship and Smell of Roses. Both Friendship and Smell of Roses deal with the issue of segregation between blacks and whites. I believe the segregation between black and whites is an important aspect of American history that children need to learn about in order to promote equality between all races.

Overall, all the text I chose involved bonds of either friendship or family. The family bond between Grandma and granddaughter exists in The Patchwork Quilt and the friendship between the young boy and Jacob in My Friend Jacob. The bond between siblings also prominently existed both in Friendship between Cassie and her brothers as well as the young girl and her sister, Minnie, in Smell of Roses. Ultimately, all the books allow children people to relate to the text because family and/or friendship is a commonality amongst all groups of people.