there was a party for langston by jason reynolds illustrated, by jerome pumphrey and jarrett pumphrey. published. caitlin dooley atheneum paying tribute to poet langston hughes, this exuberant book features energetic artwork and potent firsts, rivaling own. this is a book that reminds us why we read. to forge connections. pursue and celebrate the beauty of the written word. sophia's war. i nor han. published by leader harper immersive storytelling transports readers to world war two paris where sophia is nurtured by her loving french muslim family. this riveting middle grade novel by the real life rescue of hundreds of --, by the people of grand mosque, celebrates solid in the face of hatred. shakti by sherri winston din. published bloomsbury this ode sibling and found family love told in an authentic middle grade voice offers readers and unflinchingly honest story about the impact of parental instability. readers will resonate with african american seventh grader keita's nuanced journey to recognizing her right to be a child. gathered by kenneth m kido, published by. humor, grace and

i also want to shout out langston hughes. his work, the poem you mentioned, mother to son, is what opens up my book. so much of my writing is a dedication to my son and providing him a map of sorts when it comes to literature and legacy and allowing him to understand black history. i feel like every one of the callers echoed the importance of literature and the importance of showing up for these conversations to really understand the power of words and telling your story. it is so incredible to hear all the beautiful, beloved memories of teachers and teachers over time that have influenced readers. host: thank you so much, glory edim. the f ♪

i'm going to pass it back to langston to elaborate.rom our report, our final item is the survey. and this survey has been my the thing i've been coming up with, with my head for the last couple of months. but this survey was my original idea that the cabinet is now sort of taking on in the sac to have a district wide student survey for high school schools to give high school students a chance to speak their mind directly to the sac, and supposed to give sac some real direction in past's felt sac has been kind of just floating around doing what we think are the bigger issues, but now we actually get with this survey and opportunity to hear student voices directly and then give us a full direction on what they want. the sac to do about it and how they want it to work. so we met with the head of research, planning and as helped us formulate this idea of a survey. and we discussed with the sac and a full meeting about different categories and what questions w will put in that survey and that survey. we're coming along with the questions ri

so as langston mentioned, i am sacs elected delegate. i am a senior at the ruth asawa school of the arts, currently concentrating in the spoken arts department. coming from a background of social justice and leadership, i have worked with nonprofits like youth speaks, sunset, media, wave and community youth center, also known as cic, as a way to better understand my community. i am also serving as my school's public relations head, where i conduct the morning announcements as well as conduct as as well as communicate with administration and staff about issues and events happening on campus and as a student delegate, my goal is to amplify student voices as well as speak from the experience of a student who has attended an underserved elementary school in hopes of leaving sfusd with a system that fosters equity and supports students. for the past two months, i have also been honored to be working alongside the sac and just understanding communities affecting our schools and on the note of understanding issues going on at our schools, i wou

i also want to shout out langston hughes. work, the poem you mentioned, mother to son, is what opens up my book. so much of my writing is a dedication to my son and providing him a map of sorts when it comes to literature and legacy and allowing him to understand black history. i feel like every one of the callers echoed the importance of literature and the importance of showing up for these conversations to really understand the power of words and telling your story. it is so incredible to hear all the beautiful, beloved memories of teachers and teachers over time that have influenced readers. host: thank you so much, glory edim. the founder of the literary platform "well read black girl." this is the first of days of conversations we will be having with some of americas top writers across the political spectrum. we will talk about a variety of publicy and political topi stay tuned to washington journal all week for that, starting at 8:00 a.m. eastern, live each day. when we come back, we are going to take more of your phone

i'd like to end with a favorite line from one of my favorite poets langston hughes. i came across it when i was to create my first stories and, wondering if anyone in this country or elsewhere would relate to them or care about them. hughes i, too sing america. the words went through me like an electric shock. i thought, yes, that's true. i thought it for the first time. i sing america. thank you again to the before columbus foundation for your belief in my writing and your commitment to shining light on diverse voices so desperately needed in this divided landscape for asserting that, all of us award winners here are singing the multiple layered and multi-hued song of america. thank you so much. among many unique features of the before columbus foundation is that astonishingly, three of the last four poet laureates of the united states of america are on our board. okay. oh, yeah. you can fact check me in real time, but i'm pretty sure that's never happened before in respect to any of literary organization. certainly not one is a radical. ours. those folks are, tracy

it's a poem by langston hughes. it's entitled "i too sing america." i am the darker brother.and eat well and grow strong, because tomorrow i will be at the table when company comes, and nobody will dare say to me eat in the kitchen then. besides, they'll see how beautiful i am and be ashamed. i too sing america. sherrod, i have served with you for 11 years, and the thing i love the most about you is you see people. you see the folks that others walk past and don't even affirm their humanity. and you p don't just see people. you have shown me time and time again from my first week as a united states senator, is that you see the folks that are the most important to the very idea of america, the idea that people have sweat for and cried for and bled for. to me, that is the definition of what it means to represent people, all the people. and so i end with this, and it's a moment from american history, because i know you are such a nerd. and you, frankly, just never fit my image of what i thought a senator would look like. you're frumpy, you're disheveled and the only person who h