Hello,
I am Kyna Clemons, co-founder of Black Literary Awareness for Cultural Knowledge (B.L.A.C.K.) and administrator of the B.L.A.C.K. blog. I am a wife, lifeschooling mom, quilt artist, scrapbooker, herbalist, and educator. In addition to teaching my seven children, who range in ages eight to twenty-two, I teach African American history, art, and literature in my community.
I have "lifeschooled" my seven children for over fifteen years. My educational philosophies and pedagogy have evolved over time to reflect what I view as the contemporary realities of the rapidly changing world in which we live in order to prepare my children to successfully compete in today's global economy. I recently adopted the term "lifeschooling" because I believe it more adequately describes what families, who have taken the bold step of assuming full responsibility for their children's education, are actually accomplishing.
In our home, educating our children has always been a lifestyle with the principal goals of instilling in them a life-long love for the Creator and His beautiful creation around us; equipping them with the tools to "acquire" knowledge, rather than merely filling their heads with facts to pass standardized tests; and teaching them "how to live" as opposed to just "how to make a living".
Although it has not always been the case (because I just didn't know any better), I strongly believe in the necessity of exposing children of color to the African Centered Educational model as a building block to the traditional Eurocentric American education. In addition to a firm spiritual foundation, I believe it is only through daily African centered interactions with culturally relevant information in ALL subjects that children of color will begin to develop a strong sense of cultural identity and racial pride.
In the words of esteemed educator, Molefi Asante, the African Centered Education is important because it fosters in children of the Diaspora a world view whereby they see themselves as "major players" on the stages of world history rather than as mere "observers". For example, when we teach our children about Europe's medieval period, we should also teach them about the Black Moors who bought civilization to Spain for over 700 years. When we teach our children about Europe's noblemen, kings, and queens, why would we neglect to teach them about Africa's great kings and queens, like Shaka Zula of South Africa, or Queen Nzinga of the Ndongo people, who effectively resisted Portuguese rule in Angola for over sixty years?
Here, on the B.L.A.C.K. blog, you can find timely information about upcoming B.L.A.C.K. classes, important community and world news pertaining to people of color around the globe, and inspiration for educators seeking to infuse African culture and history into the traditional American education. It is also a place where I, and the other B.L.A.C.K. tutors, can "brag on" our B.L.A.C.K. students, who are reconnecting with the truth, beauty, and grace of the African heritage and culture in such a personal way.
This past year, it has bought tears to my eyes to witness B.L.A.C.K. students embracing the hidden knowledge of African-American history, as they soared like eagles to higher levels of academic excellence far beyond what I every conceived when we started B.L.A.C.K. Be sure to take a look at the Ancient Africa Class' virtual art gallery as well as their Metro Journey excursions. You are in for a real treat! By sharing with you, we hope to increase Black awareness, cultural expression, and self-pride in all lifeschoolers.
I have "lifeschooled" my seven children for over fifteen years. My educational philosophies and pedagogy have evolved over time to reflect what I view as the contemporary realities of the rapidly changing world in which we live in order to prepare my children to successfully compete in today's global economy. I recently adopted the term "lifeschooling" because I believe it more adequately describes what families, who have taken the bold step of assuming full responsibility for their children's education, are actually accomplishing.
In our home, educating our children has always been a lifestyle with the principal goals of instilling in them a life-long love for the Creator and His beautiful creation around us; equipping them with the tools to "acquire" knowledge, rather than merely filling their heads with facts to pass standardized tests; and teaching them "how to live" as opposed to just "how to make a living".
Although it has not always been the case (because I just didn't know any better), I strongly believe in the necessity of exposing children of color to the African Centered Educational model as a building block to the traditional Eurocentric American education. In addition to a firm spiritual foundation, I believe it is only through daily African centered interactions with culturally relevant information in ALL subjects that children of color will begin to develop a strong sense of cultural identity and racial pride.
In the words of esteemed educator, Molefi Asante, the African Centered Education is important because it fosters in children of the Diaspora a world view whereby they see themselves as "major players" on the stages of world history rather than as mere "observers". For example, when we teach our children about Europe's medieval period, we should also teach them about the Black Moors who bought civilization to Spain for over 700 years. When we teach our children about Europe's noblemen, kings, and queens, why would we neglect to teach them about Africa's great kings and queens, like Shaka Zula of South Africa, or Queen Nzinga of the Ndongo people, who effectively resisted Portuguese rule in Angola for over sixty years?
Here, on the B.L.A.C.K. blog, you can find timely information about upcoming B.L.A.C.K. classes, important community and world news pertaining to people of color around the globe, and inspiration for educators seeking to infuse African culture and history into the traditional American education. It is also a place where I, and the other B.L.A.C.K. tutors, can "brag on" our B.L.A.C.K. students, who are reconnecting with the truth, beauty, and grace of the African heritage and culture in such a personal way.
This past year, it has bought tears to my eyes to witness B.L.A.C.K. students embracing the hidden knowledge of African-American history, as they soared like eagles to higher levels of academic excellence far beyond what I every conceived when we started B.L.A.C.K. Be sure to take a look at the Ancient Africa Class' virtual art gallery as well as their Metro Journey excursions. You are in for a real treat! By sharing with you, we hope to increase Black awareness, cultural expression, and self-pride in all lifeschoolers.
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