Grandpa, Is Everything Black Bad?

When young Montsho asks his grandfather, “Is everything Black bad?” he begins a journey that will change how he sees himself forever. Through stories of courage, beauty, and resilience, his grandfather reveals the richness of their African heritage. 

Published in 1998

FAQ

What age group is appropriate for this book?

While the books are written for children, they help people understand real-world issues, and they are also used in college courses exploring systemic inequalities.

I am an elementary school teacher. How can I integrate lessons from “Grandpa, Is Everything Black Bad?” into my curriculum?

Consider these interactive activities:

• Invite a senior citizen to speak to your class and share some of their history and life experiences

• Have students draw a picture that illustrates their favorite part of the story

• Have your students make drums out of old coffee cans. They can decorate them with African prints, pictures of Africa from magazines, etc.

• Play a tape of a drum (or play a drum yourself) while reading the drum sequence of the story

• Show children a video or documentary about African culture and history

• Play music from around the world during class time

• Have students read the story and create a skit based on the reading