MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, Mich. — Muskegon Heights Public School Academy leaders included a special surprise for M.H.P.S.A. families packed inside the lunch boxes distributed this week.
As part of the academy's week-long effort to remember the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., each family received "Black is a Rainbow Color," by author Angela Joy.
The academy plans to place additional copies of the book around the community including at barber shops, beauty salons, and the lobbies of public buildings like Muskegon Heights City Hall.
"Black is a Rainbow Color," is also setting the stage for the academy to launch new curriculum that includes a broader effort to teach African American history and culture.
"This will help kids get excited when we do come back into the building, this will be a great opportunity for them to come back empowered and come back full of energy knowing who they are because they're special, they're beautiful, and they need to know that," said MLK Elementary Principal Vanessa Marble. "It's our responsibility as adults to share that with them."
Academy students on MLK Day had the chance to listen to "Black is a Rainbow Color," read by author Angela Joy on Zoom.
Related video:
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.