m is for martin luther king for preschoolers

what i say:

people with darker skin and people with lighter skin could not go to the same school (or restaurant, park, etc). even in a room full of white kids with a white teacher, i DON’T say “they couldn’t come to our school.”

people with skin like dr. king are sometimes called “black” and people with skin like mine are sometimes called “white.”

there were people with all different colors of skin agreed with dr. king’s ideas. (so often i still sense that preschoolers think only people of color agreed with dr. king).

there was a man who was so angry with what dr. king was saying that he shot him with a gun.  dr. king was hurt badly enough that he died. (this only strengthens our conversations on the realities of guns)

we used to just listen to excerpts from dr. king’s 1963 “i have a dream speech” that i bought via itunes.  but this year we’re back at the church with wireless internet, so i found the speech on youtube.

there were wonderful images of the crowds as well as dr.king.  i did hear some kids say they were looking for the man with the gun until i explained that dr. king wasn’t killed during this speech.

since we don’t have movie or computer time at preschool, this was especially exciting.  some children stayed for the duration of the speech and when it was over, one said:  “we’re ready for another movie!”

we ended the days with a dance party (thanks for the music, annie).  mc hammer made it perfect.

oh, dr. king, i think your soul would be settled a bit by the hearts of these young ones.