From USF Associate Dean of Faculty Success & Excellence and the co-author of “Affirming Black Students’ Lives and Literacies: Bearing Witness,” thank you for joining us to celebrate the launch of the book, “Black Immigrant Literacies: Intersections of Race, Language, and Culture in the Classroom” held on December 7, 2023 at USF.
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. Special thanks also, to the excellent musician, Floyd Lewis join us, as well as distinguished USF guests such as Steve Prevaux, Marcia Taylor, Ann Cranston-Gingras, and Elizabeth Shaunessy-Dedrick. Among the scholar advocates integral to this event were Drs. Shondel Nero, Donna Alvermann, Tiffany Flowers, and Ramón Martinez.
To all who’ve purchased this book and who’ve shared this love note from the heart to 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 & Endorsements
Hear from esteemed scholar and writer of the Foreword for my book, NYU Prof. Dr. Shondel Nero.
Also be sure to hear 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 NCTE & LRA 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 accompanied the writing of the book.
Review the Book on Amazon
We’d be super grateful if you could kindly share your very own Amazon Review of this book! Tell readers about at least one element that you liked. Appreciate your support.
Copies of the 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 the path to #silencinginvisibility!
Patriann Smith, Ph.D. 