Term
Spring 2024
Capstone
Capstone Project
Degree Name
MALED
Facilitator(s)
Trish Harvey
Content Expert
Robyn Westrem
Abstract
Black students continue to lag behind in literacy scores across the United States. Amidst sweeping book bans and new legislation that seeks to rewrite America’s bloody history, the United States may see a swift return to canonical literature. However, studies demonstrate the need to incorporate multicultural literature in classrooms to increase engagement and develop critical literacy skills. Therefore, the presence of Black authoriship is essential for developing Black literacy–the pursuit of mastery in certain skills, especially reading and writing, amongst Black people. This project seeks to answer the central question: What does it mean to pursue Black Literacy, and how can educators provide a curriculum that incorporates language and experiences of Black voices to validate and motivate literacy development in Black students? Through this capstone, readers will explore the history of Black education in the United States, the aforementioned legislation and the polorizes conversations that accompany it, instructional practices that support Black literacy development, and reflection questions that challenge the reader to think intentionally about incorporating Black texts into classroom curriculum. This project culminates in a year-long, American Literature curriculum incorporating diverse texts that center Black voices, experiences, and expressions. This project includes numerous resources for educators with the intention of making the curriculum accessible to all. Ultimately, my deep hope is that this project further conversations and research surrounding Black literacy development whilst validating, recognizing, and empowering Black voices, experiences, and joy
Project Type
Curriculum
Keywords
Literacy, Reading, Writing
Recommended Citation
Felton, Aleah, "The Importance of Black Authorship in Curriculum as a Way to Develop Literacy Skills in Black Students" (2024). School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects. 1021.
https://digitalcommons.hamline.edu/hse_cp/1021
dc_type
text
dc_publisher
DigitalCommons@Hamline
dc_format
application/pdf
dc_source
School of Education Student Capstone Projects