The topic is: Africa Today. Still too often kids giggle and joke about Africa because they simply are not aware of the treasures Africa has brought to the world. Moreover, they do not appreciate the customs, see the progress and ingenuity by African business owners nor do they appreciate the culture and sadly, even the food and music. Try an African restaurant near you and you will know where the Soul in Soul food came from! African recipes are all over the Internet and there are even You Tube videos that will show you how to prepare certain dishes! Delicious! When we, the class, interviews Tosin, as we call her, she will talk to us about discipline and school work, which is why many Nigerian or contineal born African students seem to excel. She will tell us about how Nigerian teens show respect to their parents. We will practice back-wrapping babies with two and a half yards of cloth (with stuffed dolls, no real ones!!) We will practice carrying large items in baskets on our heads, and show you how you can design African textiles, such as mud cloth online! And we will see African teens enjoying a good concert with the same stars our southland teens enjoy. Week Two: Setting the Voyager Columbus StraightLast week, Dr. Kwaku helped the students make a connection between themselves and the descendants of the first humans on the planet–the Baka People. We watched as they solved the challenges of the life in the forest. We also heard a lecture by Dr. Ivan Van Sertima challenging the long held belief that Columbus discovered America. He showed proof that Africans had been voyaging to the Americas from Africa long before the Europeans arrived–and that includes Mexico! We saw pyramids and Olmec heads and learned that even when evidence (such as wide noses and lips) is destroyed our Africanness still has a way of showing up in the art, and tools and statues. We Have a Winner! The winner for week two 's Black History 4 Young People quiz is pictured above: His name is Paris Patterson. He was very quick and accurate in his answers. TO PARENTS: Isidra set up a Social Networking Site on Ning which is limited to students of Black History 4 Young People. Unlike Facebook which is a whole other thing, this is a teaching tool that the participant signs up for, and we control who is invited. (They must be approved.) When you get your invitation in your email box please visit the page that is viewable by the public to see what I mean. When your child logs on, they can ask questions, take Black history quizzes, and check out articles and videos we find along the way that have interesting historical information. Consider it. It is TOTALLY OPTIONAL, free and designed to stimulate discussion for those who are a bit on the shy side. Let us know what you think! Hope to see you all June 27, 2009, 10-12 noon! NEXT WEEK: NO CLASS 4th of July Weekend! Be sure to enjoy your family time! We will see you on July 11, same time, same place!