“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots.” Marcus Garvey
“When art has changed, it’s because the world was changing.” Corita Kent
Introduction
I am a teacher in Richmond, Virginia. One of my goals is to design this unit so that it can be applied to classrooms throughout the United States. I will be teaching this unit at Franklin Military Academy, a 6th-12th grade school which is part of the Richmond Public School system. The population of this school is approximately 300 students of which an estimated 78% are African-American, 16% are Hispanic, 4% are White and 2% are either multiracial or Asian. Students are bussed from the entirety of Richmond to attend the school which is located in the city’s oldest neighborhood. Our student population represents a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds from the middle class to public housing residents as well as those students who live with extended family members. I have found that visual arts can be successfully employed to increase reading comprehension and stimulate writing for students of all backgrounds and academic levels. The ability to interpret art in terms of historical context, visual style, and connection to the viewer will be a crucial component to the reading of The History of Mary Prince, A Slave Narrative, a short volume of ferocious intensity. First published in 1831 in England, it is the telling of Mary Prince’s life story, from being born into slavery to her eventual and very fortuitous emancipation in England when she was in her 40s.1
This narrative not only voices a perspective that is almost never heard, but also affords excellent opportunities for the study of gender and ethics as well. The History of Mary Prince, A Slave Narrative is a work of nonfiction. Ms. Prince was not a professional writer. Students at times may struggle to visualize her experience. The incorporation of visual art from that time period that portrays the experiences of enslaved Africans in the same situation can help increase the students’ skills of visualization which is associated with greater reading comprehension and an awareness of this important part of human history.
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