Cocoa Kids Read

It's nice to find kid friendly websites for African American like Cocoa Kids Read. According to their description, "Cocoa Kids Read is a fun, free way to read, write and learn more about your African-American heritage. Here, you can find great books to read, learn more about famous (and not-so-famous) African-Americans, submit your poetry and writings to earn points for prizes, and play games!" Also visit their sister website Brown Baby Reads for information on reading with your child and a listing of books for African American children.

The Watsons Go To Birmingham

On Saturday, September 20 at 8/7c the Hallmark Channel will present the premier of The Watsons Go To Birmingham.  The story is taken from the novel, The Watsons Go To Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis. The film and the book provide an opportunity for families to share and discuss the sixties, a pivotal season in the lives of African Americans. This is the story of a family's journey through the south during a volatile time, and the lessons they learned.

"In the Summer of 1963, Flint, Michigan is home to the Watsons, a close knit family made up of Daniel and Wilona Watson, (Wood Harris and Anika Noni Rose) and their three kids, 15-year-old juvenile delinquent Byron (Harrison Knight), nerdy 11-year-old Kenny (Bryce Clyde Jenkins) and eight-year-old adorable sister Joetta (Skai Jackson). When Byron’s antics go over the top, his parents realize enough is enough and they decide the family needs a dose of Grandma Sands' (LaTanya Richardson Jackson) no nonsense approach in Birmingham, Alabama.

So the Watsons load up their 1948 Plymouth Brown Bomber outfitted with a true tone Ultra-Glide turntable and head South with plenty of comedy en route. When they finally make it to Birmingham, they meet Grandma Sands and her friend, Mr. Robert (David Alan Grier), who show them around town and the Watsons discover that life is very different there than in Flint – and not necessarily for the better. During that historic summer, the Watsons find themselves caught up in something far bigger than Byron’s antics; something that will change their lives and country forever."

March On: Remembering the March on Washington 50 Years Later

This year will be noted for its' historic landmark moments in the struggle for freedom by African Americans. The year began with the 150th Anniversary of the signing of The Emancipation Proclamation. This week we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington and Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech.  Young people today are a few generations away from these historic events yet those who came before them have a message to give them.  The Civil Rights Movement was fueled by young people who had courage, tenacity and determination. The story of their struggle for human rights and dignity needs to be told to young people today. They had a vision and a dream that went beyond their own personal aspirations.  Today they send a message that although the battlefield might seem different, the struggle continues. Now the torch will be passed to another generation. And I am praying that they will bring a new vision and dream to our nation.

The Doc McStuffins Mobile is Coming to Town!

Disney Jr is hitting the road with the Doc Mobile, a free family event focused on healthy living and well being.   Little ones can bring in their toys for a checkup and learn the ABCs of good health.  As an added treat they can meet members of  The Artemis Medical Society, real live physicians and women of color who will participate in this event.  The Artemis Society was formed by twelve physicians who saw the Doc McStuffins television series as a reflection of themselves and a positive role model for young children. Since then their organization has grown to almost 3,000 women of color representing 39 states. Now part of their aim is to inspire young people to pursue careers in medicine.

As Dr. Myiesha Taylor, Artemis Medical Society co-founder and president explains “As a physician and mother, I’m grateful to Disney Junior for creating meaningful programming,  We credit Doc McStuffins with sparking a movement, now we are organized for a greater purpose and vision.  Artemis is setting the ground work for a more diverse physician workforce.  We want people to know Doc can be on the small or big screen, and she can also be in your communities.”

Catch them in San Antonio, Dallas, New Orleans, Atlanta, Washington, Phoenex and Los Angeles for a complete schedule  visit their website.

The television series, Doc McStuffins has been renewed for a second season starting in September.

Michelle Obama Inspires Hip Hop CD for Healthy Kids

Michelle Obama (Tasos Katopodis / Getty Images)

First Lady Michelle Obama’s "Let's Move" Campaign has inspired Partnership for a Healthier America and the Hip Hop Public Health Foundation to produce the album, “Songs for a Healthier America,” The Album features hip-hop vets including Ashanti, DMC and Arti Green with 19 songs encouraging young people to adopt a healthy lifestyle.

The album’s tracks include titles like  “We Like Vegetables,” “U R What You Eat” and “Veggie Luv.”  The first single, “Everybody,” featuring Jordin Sparks, Doug E. Fresh and Dr. Oz, has already been released. As promised, the first lady does make an appearance. She briefly talks about the campaign’s beginnings and why the program has been successful. Find out the facts.

Michelle Obama launched the Lets Move! campaign in 2010.  As she noted on her website, "In the end, as first lady, this isn’t just a policy issue for me. This is a passion. This is my mission. I am determined to work with folks across this country to change the way a generation of kids thinks about food and nutrition."

FLOTUS's new partners share her passion.  “Music is so universal, it’s so powerful, that as an educator I’m always amazed of why it’s not being used more ubiquitously within public health,” Dr. Olajide Williams, founder of Hip Hop Public Health and associate professor of clinical neurology at Columbia University Medical Center, told MSNBC.

Music, he added, has greater representation in the brain than language. It not only enhances memory, but also creates an emotional connection with the themes being delivered.

Everyone can hear the entire album on Sept. 30 via free download on the Partnership for a Healthier America’s website. All this to promote Mrs. Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign.

Arthur Ashe Kids' Day

                          Mindless Behavior performs at Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day. - Philip Hall/USTA


This Saturday Michelle Obama will be attending Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day along with a host of other celeberities including Serena Williams.  Arthur Ashe Kids Day is the largest single-day, grassroots tennis and entertainment event in the world, with chart-topping performers, celebrities and some of the best tennis players in the game coming together to celebrate the life and values of tennis legend and humanitarian Arthur Ashe. The event takes place the Saturday before the US Open.

Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day features a ticketed Stadium Show and concert inside Arthur Ashe Stadium preceded by a free Grounds Festival on the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y.

Ethnic Edibles

Heather McCartney is the designer and founder of Ethnic Edibles®, the
Africa-inspired cookie cutter set, and Coquí Cookies™, the Puerto Rico-inspired cookie cutter set. Her captivation with the decorative and tribal arts of African culture, and the indigenous history of the Taíno led to her desire to replicate them and share them in a fun and educational way.  Heather made her first journey to Africa in 1997.  It was in South Africa that she learned more about the tribal arts of the Ndebele and Zulu nations.  Eager to share her enthusiasm with others, she baked a batch of gingerbread cookies with facial scarifications based upon the many masks and dolls she admired. The unique cultural cookies captured the attention of families, educators, bakers and retailers, and they were soon in demand. This interest propelled her to learn more about traditional symbols of African culture and soon after Ethnic Edibles was born!  To get a set of the cookie cutters visit her website.