Reviews: Documentary and Books

This passed week; I have gone on a reading tear along with scooping up a documentary I plan to use when our boys get to the history of America's founding.

Slavery & The Making of America
http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/slavery-making-of-america/

This series has four, one hour videos that taught me a few things I had never known about the start of slavery in the United States with the arrival of eleven men from different countries in the founding of the British colonies.  What I found extremely interesting was how those 11 eventually went on to become somewhat freed men as they bartered with the people that basically owned them. 


Another area I found interesting is our founding father Thomas Jefferson's stance of not allowing slaves to remain in the US.  This just blows my mind plus his relationship with the man (Jupiter) he own.  I just don't understand the hypocrisy of the whole notion of America advocating for 'equality' yet, using the lives of others to lift self up. 


Plus there was a video segment featuring one of my favorite authors from that time
by Harriet Jacobs, "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl."
http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/Harriet_Jacobs/Incidents_in_the_Life_of_a_Slave_Girl/
This is the account of her life as a slave and the 7 years she spent in hiding in the roof of her mother's cabin.  Later, she moved out to the North East and met up with other women (feminists) who advocated for rights of others.  This book is also available for free on Amazon's kindle section.

This series is remarkable in the fact it showed how the Republican party was basically born and fought staunchly against bringing slaves into the political fold.  In the reconstruction era; this series explains the enactment of the 14th and 15th Admendments to include the tactics used by Republican party far back into the 1800s over the threat of losing their power and financial livelihood.  Seriously this is a great series and I will be watching it with my boys later on in the school year.

BOOKS:

I purchased some books last week so; I could use them to teach the boys about the horrible conditions in which some children grow up and are abused by parents or their society.  It is a hard fact of life not every child is brought forth in love, respect, or understanding.  I am highly recommending the following books and be warned some of the text is highly graphic in the language, concept, and visualization.

'STOLEN INNOCENCE: My Story Growing Up In a Polygamous, Becoming a Teenaged Bride, and Breaking Free of Warren Jeffs' Sect by Elissa Wall and Lisa Pulitzer


'Little Prisoner: A Memoir,' by  Jane Elliot and Andrew Crofts,


'I Am Najood, Age 10 and Divorced,'  by Najood.


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Onto to home school news; we are slowly easing back into our daily lessons with primarily a focus on reading, spelling, math, and penmanship for Zephyr.  Saenz on the other hand is starting with "The Story of Us" and pre-Algebra with a smattering of science, literature, grammar, spelling, to include practice writting essays.


I am hoping all who pass here are enjoying their summer; personally I am praying for rain or even a tropical storm to come our way.  With temps hitting over 112 every afternoon; we need some relief from the blazing Fire Ball.


Thanks for stopping by,
Mal