Podcast
On Being with Krista Tippett
This book, written by Marilyn Nelson, explores the experiences of white children with a Black teacher in 1954, told through poems written by Nelson and other poets. It was described as joyful and a labour of love.
The Children's Moon is the moon that you see sometimes in the morning. You see a faint moon in the sky.
— Episode: Pádraig Ó Tuama and Marilyn Nelson – “So...
Episode: Pádraig Ó Tuama and Marilyn Nelson – “So let us pi...
This book, written by Marilyn Nelson, explores the experiences of white children with a Black teacher in 1954, told through poems written by Nelson and other poets. It was described as joyful and a labour of love.
The Children's Moon is the moon that you see sometimes in the morning. You see a faint moon in the sky.
In my navy shirtwaist dress and three inch heels, my pearl clip-ons and newly red rinsed curls, I smoothed on lipstick. Lipstick marked my girls, saluted and held thumbs up to my darling Mel, and drove myself to school for the first day.
Over the schoolyard, a silver lozenge dissolved into the morning's blue cauldron. Enter 27-year-old white children. Look, children, I said as they found their desks. The Children's Moon, a special good luck sign.
We pledged allegiance and silently prayed. George Washington watched sternly from his frame. I turned to the blackboard and wrote my name. I thought I heard, she's the real teacher's maid. I thought I heard echoes of history.
But when I turned, every child in the room had one hand up asking, what is the Children's Moon?
Episode: [Unedited] Pádraig Ó Tuama and Marilyn Nelson wi...
This book of poetry explores the experiences of white children in a second-grade class taught by a Black teacher in 1954 in Salina, Kansas. The poems are written from the perspectives of the children and the teacher.
In my navy shirtwaist dress and three-inch heels, my pearl clip-ons and newly red-rinsed curls, I smoothed on lipstick. Lipstick marked my girls, saluted and held thumbs up to my darling Mel, and drove myself to school for the first day. For the first day.