Books

Local teacher’s book teaches children reading, self-esteem

THE PHILADELPHIA TRIBUNE — In the 12 years that he spent teaching in the School District of Philadelphia, Andrew Vassall saw children struggle daily with issues that he wanted to address. But he wasn’t exactly sure how.

Published

7 years ago

April 11, 2019

ALONZO KITTRELS

By John N. Mitchell

In the 12 years that he spent teaching in the School District of Philadelphia, Andrew Vassall saw children struggle daily with issues that he wanted to address.

But he wasn’t exactly sure how.

Years later, Vassall, now a fifth-grade teacher at the Elkins Park School in Cheltenham, thinks he has found a starting place with the publication of his first book, “The Black Crayon.”

“The Black Crayon,” Vassall says, “is a colorful, vibrant and captivating story of a box of colorful crayons with one black crayon who struggles to be accepted. With the love of a little girl, Laila, the black crayon begins to see his inner beauty. The book teaches self-awareness and cultural awareness to young children.”

The crayon shares a box with other crayons, all of whom are taken out and used daily by other children. Meanwhile, the black crayon never gets used. He begins to think that his color is the reason he is ignored and, as the days and weeks go by, his self-esteem dwindles and he begins to doubt his self-worth.

One day, Laila pulls him from the box. She draws a castle, a night sky, a princess, a bed for the princess and her pets as well — all with the black crayon. He eventually sheds tears of joy, and he learns “never to doubt himself, always be proud of who he is, and that black can be used in any picture because black is beautiful.”

Vassall, who is working on a doctorate in reading and literacy, said the idea for the book stems from the 1940s “Doll test” conducted by Kenneth and Mamie Clark. In the experiment, children of different races ages 3 to 7 were given four dolls of different colors and asked to identify which they preferred. Overwhelmingly, the children preferred the white dolls, which led Clark to conclude that “prejudice, discrimination and segregation” created feelings of inferiority among Black children.

Vassall sees the book, illustrated by Unc Jon, as an attack on racial perceptions and as a mechanism to encourage children, particularly African Americans and children in low-income homes, to become more avid readers.

While he was teaching in Philadelphia, Vassall said, he often became frustrated teaching children sometimes reading as many as three years below grade level.

“I wanted to do something that would both help build esteem in students and spark in them a desire to be more excited about reading, especially in urban areas,” Vassall said. “That’s why I went back to school.”

Vassall said “The Black Crayon” can be purchased both in stores and online. He has sold it locally at a number of events. During a Black History Month event at Cheltenham High School, his alma mater, Vassall was joined by his former elementary school teacher who was stunned to learn that her former student was not only teaching but also writing children’s books.

“I must have taught more than 800 students, so it’s rewarding when you see that one is following in your footsteps,” retired teacher Sydney Tiller said. “And to see that he has written such a delightful book that I know is going to encourage reading among students makes you feel good.”

A father of three children, Vassall, 47, has had his hands full raising a family and working on a doctorate. However, he says he has been bitten by the publishing bug and plans to publish another book looking at blended families and changing family dynamics during the summer.

“It’s a great outlet and great way to encourage reading and teaching,” Vassall said. “I’m excited about doing this work.”

This article originally appeared in The Philadelphia Tribune.

ALONZO KITTRELS

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Black History

Oakland Observes Black August with Block Parties, Film Showings, Workshops

POST NEWS GROUP — Beginning in 1979 in San Quentin State Prison, the Black Guerrilla Family called for the remembrance of political prisoner George Jackson and his brother Jonathan Jackson who were assassinated in the early 1970s. George Jackson was considered a political prisoner in that it was the anti-Black justice system that led to his incarceration for armed robbery with a sentence of one year-to-life in 1960.

Published

22 hours ago

August 15, 2026

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George Jackson wrote two books: “Soledad Brother,” and “Blood in My Eye” before her was killed in an attempt to escape prison on Aug. 21, 1971.

By Jana Lang, Propel Youth Reporter

Study. Train. Fast. Fight.

These are the four tenets of Black August, a month dedicated to commemorating the sacrifices of political prisoners and Black revolutionaries in the struggle for Black liberation.

Observers are urged to study the history of the Black struggle for freedom, train their bodies for health and self-defense, fast to cleanse the mind, body, and spirit, and fight ongoing oppression alongside their communities and local political organizations.

Beginning in 1979 in San Quentin State Prison, the Black Guerrilla Family called for the remembrance of political prisoner George Jackson and his brother Jonathan Jackson who were assassinated in the early 1970s. George Jackson was considered a political prisoner in that it was the anti-Black justice system that led to his incarceration for armed robbery with a sentence of one year-to-life in 1960.

While in prison, George befriended fellow prisoner W.L. Nolen, who introduced him to the works of Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, Mao Zedong, and Frantz Fanon. This radicalization coupled with his experiences of violence while imprisoned led to him writing and publishing two books, “Soledad Brother” (1970), and “Blood in my Eye” (1972). In January of 1970, George and two other prisoners were charged with murdering a corrections officer at Soledad State Prison in Monterey County.

On Aug. 7, 1970, Jonathan Jackson burst into a Marin County courtroom armed with a shotgun to demand the freedom of the Soledad Brothers. He, along with the inmates he freed, was shot and killed while driving away. This involved one of the Black Panther Party’s most notable associates, Angela Davis, because the shotgun was registered in her name. She was later acquitted of charges of conspiracy, kidnapping, and murder in 1972.

On Aug. 21, 1971, George Jackson was assassinated by a corrections officer after attempting to escape and free other inmates. As a result, there were uprisings and protests within prisons all over the country that year, calling forth resistance against racial oppression and mass incarceration.

Since its outset, Black August has evolved across the country, taking many forms to honor this history and embody the four tenets.

In Oakland, the upcoming Black August Experience, hosted by Youth Alive! and the East Oakland Boxing Association (EOBA), is a free, family-friendly event celebrating the legacy of Black August. Activities include free food and drinks, a kids’ activity zone, interactive workshops, live cooking and boxing demonstrations, and more.

Happening on Aug. 21 from 4-8 p.m. at the EOBA Patio, Carolyn Flynn, director of administration at EOBA, said the event, in its second year, will be an opportunity to engage with people in person through food, shared space, and education.

“We do regular classes in education, and those are ongoing programs that we offer, but we wanted to have [an opportunity] for our neighbors to utilize this space.” Combined with Youth Alive’s work in community violence prevention and youth leadership, this event surely aims to bring the Oakland community together to capture what Black August means today.

Here are additional Black August events happening in Oakland:

Forum and Community Discussion hosted by the Oakland Liberation Center, 1499 Fruitvale Ave., Aug. 14, 7 p.m.

“George Jackson/San Quentin” Screening hosted by Nostalgic for Nothing Cinema at Moments Co-Op, 410 13th St., Aug. 16, doors at 6 p.m., show at 6:30 p.m. (Masks required and scent-free)

Commemorating the Struggle, Building the Altar for Liberation: Black August at Bandung Books, 2269 International Blvd., Aug. 23rd, 1-5 p.m.

Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS), will host “Black August: The Arc of Liberation” at Oakland City Hall on Sat. Aug. 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of August 12 – 18, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of August 12 – 18, 2026

Published

22 hours ago

August 15, 2026

Oakland Post

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Black History

George Cook: The Inventor Who Made Fishing Smarter

Published

1 week ago

August 9, 2026

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A copy of the patent for George Cook’s Automatic Fishing Device. Public domain.

By Tamara Shiloh

George Cook was a Black American inventor from Louisville, Kentucky. He was born in 1863, during a time when Black Americans faced unfair laws, limited opportunities, and many barriers to education, jobs, and recognition. Even with these challenges, he became known for his intelligence, honesty, and ability to think in practical ways. Some records say he worked as a cook for Buffalo Bill Cody and later as a chef on a private dining car for the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. He was even known by the nickname “Honest Mister Cook.”

As with many Black American inventors and scientists of that era, there is little biographical information about Mr. Cook.

Cook’s most famous invention was the Automatic Fishing Device. He received U.S. Patent No. 625,829 for it on May 30, 1899. His patent shows that he was not just someone with an idea, but someone who made it happen.

So, what did the Automatic Fishing Device do? Imagine fishing with a line in the water. Usually, you have to watch carefully and pull the line at just the right moment when a fish bites. Cook wanted to make that process easier. His device was designed to react when a fish pulled on the line. The tension from the fish would trigger a lever. That lever would release a spring-loaded part of the device, causing it to move quickly and help pull in the line. The device also had an alarm gong that would ring to let the fisher know something was happening.

This invention was important because it used simple mechanical ideas in a clever way. Springs, levers, rails, and alarms were not new by themselves, but Cook combined them to solve a real problem. His device showed how inventors often take familiar parts and arrange them in a new way to make life easier.

Cook looked at fishing and asked, “How can this be improved?” Then, he created a device that could respond automatically when a fish tugged on the line. His invention let fishermen relax instead of watching the line for hours, trusting the alarm to alert them.

Cook may not be as famous as some inventors, but his Automatic Fishing Device shows that creativity and innovation can be applied anywhere. His legacy lives on as part of the larger story of Black innovation in America.