VOA常速英语:讲述黑人历史的教育玩具

It’s all about changing the narrative of black history, building leaders through the story of my ancestors.
We produce educational toys where children can learn black history in a very fun and creative way.
The focus really is to kind of see black history through a different lens instead of focusing on oppression and slavery.
I don’t want that to be their first thought anymore.
I want their first thought when people think of black history is to be resiliency and leadership.

Bevy & Dave, I named Bevy after my daughter, Beverly, and I named Dave after my brother, David.
The first toy I created is the History Makers Puzzle Block Set.
It was launched in 2016.
We are going to put the alphabet together and not repeat the same letters.
It starts for age 3+.
And so, with that one I didn’t want to continue the story of "A" is for Apple.
On this History Makers Puzzle Block Set, its "A" for Appreciation. Appreciation, that’s right.
And then when you turn the block, they’ll learn that it means to be thankful.
So, it would be a word like leadership, strategy or it would be a historic figure or historic fact.
"W" is for Maggi Walker where they get a chance to learn about her being the first female bank president.
So, they get the opportunity to now experience the alphabet in a different way.
The second toy, I wanted to focus on inventors.
I put their faces on there purposely
because I wanted people and children to see who created these remarkable things were all experiencing every day.
Frederick Jones, he invented mobile refrigeration,
because before him we didn’t have a way to safely transport food that was perishable.
Norbert Rillieux, he invented automated sugar refining.
Where does this one go? Can it go here?
I want children of other ethnic groups to also learn through the lens of that story which I’m trying to share.
Can you put the refrigerated cold truck here?
For a child to play with different toys that represent their own culture,
but other culture is really important especially at an early age.
That really creates more openness.
It creates understanding.
It creates more conversations for parents to have with their children about race and ethnicity.
Currently, my educational toys are used in different preschools and elementary schools in different states.
"So what we need to do, we need to look around on each side and find.
Can you guys find the letter on each side of these cubes"
My name is Brittany Simmons.
I teach pre k-4 English at Sela public Charter School.
"So can you help us find the letter C?"
One of the games that we play is we use the multi-functional blocks.
The more they see while they are putting them together, they see the different sides.
And it provokes a lot of questions.
So, we have a lot of discussions around what they see.
"Frederick M. Jones, lets finish putting it together that he invented something.
He’s on this puzzle.
That means he invented something"
They hear a lot about different inventions that were made, people in history, why they are so relevant.
They learn different vocabulary words.
It’s definitely a conversation piece.
"So these men created all of the things you see here."
We just have to learn to appreciate and enjoy every part of the story that everybody brings.
And that to me is how we make the world better.
And I hope Bevy & Dave will be a part of that. I really do.