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

8 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

Michael Shiner: The Enslaved Man Who Wrote His Way into American History

Born into slavery in 1805, Michael G. Shiner became an essential eyewitness to 19th-century America by documenting over five decades of history in a private journal. Working at the Washington Navy Yard, Shiner recorded monumental events ranging from the British invasion during the War of 1812 to the complexities of labor and racial discrimination. His writings offer a rare, first-person perspective on the nation’s transformation from the eyes of a man who navigated both bondage and liberty. Read more to learn how Shiner secured his legacy.

Published

2 weeks ago

November 3, 2026

Post News Group

By Tamara Shiloh

Long before African Americans could freely tell their stories, Michael G. Shiner was quietly documenting history.

Born into slavery in 1805 in Piscataway, Maryland, Shiner became one of the most remarkable eyewitness chroniclers of nineteenth-century America. His writings preserved more than five decades of Washington, D.C., history, providing an extraordinary perspective on slavery, freedom, labor, and the nation’s transformation.

He was born to William Pumphrey Jr., whose family owned property in Maryland and Washington, D.C. Around 1812, Shiner was brought to the nation’s capital, where he eventually worked at the Washington Navy Yard. Although denied the educational opportunities available to White Americans, he learned to read and write, likely through religious instruction at Washington’s First Presbyterian Church.

His literacy became a powerful instrument of historical preservation. Beginning with recollections of events in 1813, Shiner recorded significant happenings in a handwritten journal he called his “book.” His observations included the British invasion of Washington during the War of 1812, particularly the burning of the Capitol and other government buildings in August 1814. His descriptions captured the fear, destruction, and confusion surrounding one of America’s most devastating wartime attacks.

However, his writings extended far beyond military events.

In 1828, Thomas Howard, chief clerk of the Washington Navy Yard, acquired Shiner and hired out his labor. He worked in the Navy Yard’s paint shop, observing the everyday experiences of enslaved and free workers. His diary documented ship launches, workplace accidents, labor disputes, racial discrimination, and political developments.

One of his most heartbreaking experiences occurred in 1833 when slave traders threatened to separate his family. His wife, Phillis, and their children faced the possibility of being sold away. Through determined intervention and assistance from influential individuals, Shiner obtained their release from enslavement.

He petitioned for his own freedom in 1836 and subsequently lived as a free man. By 1850, census records identified him as free, living with his second wife, Jane, and their children.

His writings continued through the Civil War, documenting the changing political landscape and the struggle for African American freedom. His manuscript also revered the Emancipation Proclamation, demonstrating the importance of this historic declaration to someone who had personally experienced enslavement.

Following the Civil War, he became active in Republican politics and advocated for African American rights. His remarkable memory and detailed observations made him a respected figure throughout Washington.

Shiner died of smallpox on January 16, 1880, at approximately seventy-five years old.

Today, his 186-page manuscript, The Diary of Michael Shiner Relating to the History of the Washington Navy Yard, 1813–1869, is preserved at the Library of Congress.

What makes his achievement extraordinary is that an African American laborer, once considered property under American law, became an invaluable recorder of the nation’s history.

Shiner never achieved fame during his lifetime as a writer. Yet his determination to document the world around him ensured that future generations could understand American history through the eyes of someone who experienced both slavery and freedom.