From the co-author of “Affirming Black Students’ Lives and Literacies: Bearing Witness,” we are so grateful for you joining us to celebrate the official launch of the book, “Black Immigrant Literacies: Intersections of Race, Language, and Culture in the Classroom” held on December 7, 2023 at USF.
See the joyful and heartfelt moments in the official Book Launch video and in the many snippets below signaling our continued efforts across boundaries to #silencinginvisibility.
Special thanks to the Sponsor – the USF David Anchin Center, and to the Co-Sponsor, USF Institute of Black Life, for coordinating this event and making it possible. Many thanks to our host for the evening, USF Graduate Student Success Fellow and Research Assistant, Darlshawn (Shawn) Patterson for impeccably guiding us through this heartfelt discussion about this new book. We were delighted to have had the excellent Caribbean musician, Floyd Lewis join us on the steel pan for the evening.
Grateful for the presence of distinguished USF guests such as former General Counsel and Ombudsman, Steve Prevaux, Director of International Student Services, Marcia Taylor, USF Librarian Susan Ariew, Associate Dean Dr. Ann Cranston-Gingras, and LLEEP Department Chair, Dr. Elizabeth Shaunessy-Dedrick.
It was wonderful also, to be surrounded by USF Literacy Studies faculty and students in this moment and to have the presence of USF Faculty Senate President, Literacy Studies Professor, and my Dissertation Advisor, Dr. Jenifer Jasinski Schneider, to celebrate this moment.
Special thanks for the distinguished presence of giants in the field such as UGA’s Dr. Donna Alvermann and to the other phenomenal field giants and scholar advocates such as NYU’s Shondel Nero, Stanford’s Ramón Martinez, MSU’s Vaughn Watson, and GSU’s Tiffany Flowers, who were each integral to this event and whose scholarship brought nuance to our conversations.
We thank everyone who has purchased this book and who has shared this love note from my heart with Black immigrants around the world! We appreciate you joining us in #silencinginvisibility.
Thank you for your interest in learning how to center, affirm, and develop Black immigrant literacies in ways that allow all youth to engage with and honor their literacies. We anticipate that you will use and share this book which presents a framework to revolutionize teaching in ways that draw on students’ assets for redesigning, rethinking, and reimagining literacy and the English Language Arts curriculum. By accessing the authentic narratives of Afro-Caribbean youth presented in the book, it will be possible to:
- Teach the Black literate immigrant.
- Use literacy and English language arts curriculum as a vehicle for instructing Black immigrant youth.
- Foster relations among Black immigrants and their peers through literacy.
- Connect parents, schools, and communities.
Be sure to read the Foreword by Dr. Shondel Nero and Afterword by Dr. S. Joel Warrican. The text includes lesson plans, instructional models, and templates that range in their focus from K-12 to college. We urge all International Student Services offices and every district as well as school to purchase a copy.
Learn More about My Why
Understand the reasons why I do this work.
Guest Appearances and Endorsements
Hear from esteemed scholar and writer of the Foreword for my book, NYU Prof. Dr. Shondel Nero.
Also be sure to view renowned professors and writers of the endorsements, UT Austin’s Dr. Allison Skerrett, Syracuse’s Dr. Kathleen Hinchman, University of Chicago’s Dr. Aria Razfar, and Michigan State University’s, the distinguished Dr. Patricia Edwards.
See more on my Black Immigrant Literacies YouTube Channel. And subscribe.
View the Unboxing Video
Take a look at the brief moment when I first saw my new book.
View Snippets from my LRA & NCTE Book Launch Events
View snippets from my NCTE Book Signing and LRA Book Release Dinner Party.
Book Excerpt
Here’s a brief snippet from the book by one Bahamian immigrant student, Ervin: “When I said, “Bey,” she would tell me, “Stop speaking like that.” When I said, “Why?” she would say, “Speak correctly,” because she would correlate me talking like that to, like, me talking like I’m ghetto. . . .”
Black Immigrant Literacies Spotify Playlist
Listen to the musical wave that I rode as I wrote.
Review My Book on Amazon
Share your very own Amazon Review of this book! Tell readers about at least one element that you liked. Appreciate your support.
Get your T-Shirt and Support the Cause
Copies of my book are now available for purchase online at Teachers College Press. Use CODE BIL2023 for 15% off + FREE shipping. Offer valid until December 31, 2023. Also available on Amazon and in bookstores worldwide.
Thank you for joining us in #silencinginvisibility!
Patriann Smith, Ph.D. 
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