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BLACK CULTURE, HOMESCHOOLING, TRAVEL (AND OTHER THINGS FROM MY SWEET, IMPERFECT LIFE)
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I’m Amber
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My name is Amber O’Neal Johnston, and I started this website to document and discuss the joys and trials of raising my kids to love themselves and others.
The Latest Posts
Library Book Sale Haul
I need more books like I need a hole in my head, yet... I continue to purchase them. Part of my excuse is that I'm homeschooling four children, and...
Black Verse Novels for Young People
I adore poetry, and in recent years, I've clung to Black verse novels for myself, my children, and the kiddos in my book club. Narrative poetry is...
HBCU Made: A Celebration of the Black College Experience
Attending an HBCU changed my life, and the new book HBCU Made: A Celebration of the Black College Experience reminded me of how profound the...
Why Race Matters in Children’s Literature
If I had a dollar for every time someone tells me that race shouldn’t matter when it comes to choosing children’s books, I’d be writing this post...
Historic Home Field Trips: Frederick Douglass’ Cedar Hill
I love taking historic home field trips with my family. Scroll to the end to check out the article I wrote for Simple Homeschool to learn more about...
Picture Books Aren’t Just for Little Kids
Picture books aren't just for little kids. Some of the best books my family has read are illustrated children’s books intended for a young audience...
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Why I Talk About Black Books so Much
“Why do your kids only read books about Black people? Isn’t that just as bad as white kids never reading about other people?” I assume...
African American Picture Study: Prince Demah
Prince Demah (c. 1745—March 1778) was an African American painter who was formerly enslaved and active in Boston in the late 1700s. In April 1777,...
Black Composer: Chevalier de Saint-Georges
Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (December 25, 1745 – June 12, 1799) was a French classical composer, virtuoso violinist, a conductor of...
Book Club Notes: The Last Last Day of Summer
Our last book club meeting of the regular school year was The Last Last Day of Summer by Lamar Giles. Each month, I try to share the notes I use...
Ashley Bryan: African American Artist & Author Spotlight
Ashley Bryan (born July 13, 1923) is an American writer and illustrator of children's books, most of his subjects represent the Black experience,...
Juneteenth Books: Celebrating Freedom!
Last year, I wrote a little about what Juneteenth means to my family, and I shared about a road trip we took that gave us a chance to sit in the...
Black Cowboys Booklist: Finding Joy in History
There is hard history in every time period, but for the next two years, my family will be focusing on an especially tough time in U.S. history. A...
Sweet Tea & Cookies Multicultural Enrichment Guide
Sweet Tea & Cookies is a multicultural family celebration of the American South. But it’s not about state flags, birds, flowers, and capital...
Living Books vs. Lifegiving Books with Charlotte Mason
Last year, I gave a talk about books as mirrors and windows. Some of you may have heard it. There was much more to it than just this, but to...
Heritage Hymns: Curated Multicultural Hymns
“Heritage Hymns” is a curated collection of multicultural hymnal studies born of my desire to expand the traditional offering of resources for my...
17 Picture Books Featuring Black Artists
My children are drawn to stories of real-life creators fueled by passion, purpose, resilience, and imagination. We read books on all sorts of...
African American Picture Study: Augusta Savage
Augusta Savage (February 29, 1892 – March 27, 1962) was an outstanding sculptor associated with the intellectual and cultural awakening known as the...
Recent Podcasts and Videos: Homeschooling, Worldschooling, and Motherhood
One of the things I love most about my work with Heritage Mom is getting to speak with dynamic women who inspire me with their questions and...
Black History Books Covering Colonial America and Revolutionary War Time Period (1650-1800 AD)
I've heard from many of you who have appreciated my Black history book recommendations for Early Modern (800-1650), 1800s Slavery, Civil War &...
Hallelujah! Booklist: Bible Stories With Images of Black People
My path to including black Biblical images in our home started with a treasured photograph that I keep on my desk. It's an up close picture of me...
Book Club Notes: The Toothpaste Millionaire
I'm excited to share our experience with The Toothpaste Millionaire with you. Each month, I try to share the notes I use while leading a book club...