Teaching a tough subject with poetry and love

Children’s book by Caroline Brewer spotlights a fictional girl protesting violence by police and others.

Perspective by Cortland Milloy for The Washington Post

(PHOTO: Amari Russell, 6, examines a copy of Caroline Brewer’s “Say Their Names” at a signing in Washington. Photo by Courtland Milloy/TWP)

At the Potter’s House community center in Adams Morgan, an audience gathered recently to hear children’s book author Caroline Brewer read from her latest work, “Say Their Names.” The book is a poem about a fictional 7-year-old girl named Aliya who leads a demonstration against violence, including police shootings, in her neighborhood.

Brewer asked the audience to repeat after her as she read from the book. The children responded enthusiastically.

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