Historic Day

It was really something seeing our first African-American president's inauguration. Amazing. Someone commented to me that living in the north all her life (and, I would add, being younger), the gravity of this day escapes her to a certain degree.

I'm no expert on this, but my advice to her and others is that besides studying the historical facts, the emotions get touched through stories. Three "stories" I often recommend:

• Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor: Lois use to read this to her students every year during Black History Month when she was a classroom teacher.
• One of my favorite all-time movies that makes me choke up just thinking of it is "To Kill a Mockingbird."
• Two television movies that I loved but don't know if they have stood the test of time (regarding style, etc.) are Roots and a made-for-TV movie on Ruby Bridges. 

Do you have other recommendations?