The Rains Marketing Kit-V1

8/8/2019 The Rains Marketing Kit-V1

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For more information about The Rains, contact: Laureate House Press

www.sulaymanclark.com

Kit Contents About The Rains Meet Dr. Sulayman Clark, Author Educator Brief Teacher Testimonials Author Outreach

Supplemental Materials Bringing History to Life (Authors Note to Teachers and Parents) Letter of Support from Dr. Arlene Ackerman, Superintendent of

Philadelphia Public Schools


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About The Rains

Meet Dr. Sulayman Clark

The Rains is a carefully researched historical novel inspired by realpeople and actual events. The story is set in antebellum Philadelphia,when the city was a hotbed for the abolitionist movement and amajor crossroads for the Underground Railroad. It explores the lifeand times of a dynamic group of free persons of color and whiteabolitionists who struggled to end slavery and pursue educationalopportunities in the post-Emancipation era. The story reveals thetrials and triumphs of this inter-racial and inter-faith community of activists who banded together to promote sweeping social reformsduring a turbulent and transformative period in American history.

It is a lively and uplifting novel that highlights the veritable battle for the soul of a nation. It also

discusses causal factors influencing key events of national importance and traces the grindingevolution of democracy throughout the 19th century. It is a timeless story about a remarkablegroup of people bound together by strong ethical principles and the quest for a greater America.

Sulayman Clark, Ed.D is a native of Philadelphia and graduated fromCheyney University of Pennsylvania. He subsequently earned a mastersdegree from Stanford University and a doctorate degree from HarvardUniversity. He is a former Teaching Fellow at Harvard and served as theDirector of the Harvard Graduate School of Educations Field PlacementOffice.

Dr. Clark is an author and educational historian. He was chosen tocatalog and index the William H. Dorsey Collection, a rare collection of

primary source materials including manuscripts scrapbooks, and memorabilia covering theperiod, 1840-1913. His recent historical novel entitled, The Rains: Voices for American Liberty , isbased on those archival holdings.


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Educator Brief The Rains by Dr. Sulayman Clark is a novel that

takes the reader on a voyage in a historical timecapsule that stops along the route from slaveryto freedom during the times of the antebellumSouth, the free Northern states and during thetime of the Slave Abolitionist Movement. Thisnovel not only provides accurate historicalaccounts of events and placed along the Underground Railroad, but provides academic insight tostudents on the specifics of the human condition for slaves, free African Americans and the whitesthat helped the Movement. The character traits of some of the main characters such as William Still;a free African American; and his gift of storytelling about various individuals, who traveled along theUnderground Railroad, are intriguing. One account takes the reader and a husband and wife fromSouth Carolina through Baltimore to find freedom in Philadelphia. This story is both heart rivetingand emotionally charged. The couple goes to actual places in 19 th Century Baltimore that will peakthe interest of students and educators alike. Accounts of Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church inPhiladelphia, the Quaker support in Lancaster and the Christiana Uprising all will provide studentswith valuable historical data that can be supported by field trips, performing arts activities andexpanded research across the Language Arts, American History and American Literature academicdomains. Additional activities and lessons can be created to enhance the Black History Monthexperience as well.

The novel should be considered supplemental curriculum and can be aligned with the state

curriculum for core learning goals and objectives. The newly adopted National and State Standardsadopted by the National Governors Association (NGA) and the State Education Chiefs for theHumanities and Arts strata can also be aligned with the novel. School leadership can anticipate thatinclusion of the National and State goals and objectives will be implemented into the local districtcurriculum in the near future. The Rains , as a supplemental text can easily be used to cover curriculathat focus on the historical perspectives of slavery, the Abolitionary Movement, and the Civil War.Students will be able closely observe and vicariously experience the pain and the elation of thehuman experience as a slave. The Rains will facilitate development of compassion for the humanexperience and is crucial for all students of diverse cultures and backgrounds. The novel will assist allreaders to expand their repertoire of reading material and will enhance personal characterdevelopment as individuals take this trip through the harsh years of slavery and draw from thecharacters strength, perseverance and resiliency in order to meet the hardships and personalchallenges of their own young adult lives.

Superintendents, elected officials and leaders from Ivy League Institutions of higher education haverecommended this reading. The novel will truly enhance the academic experience of students andshould be added to the arsenal of education weaponry required to holistically educate our youth.The Rains is a must-read and should strongly be considered for inclusion in the curriculum.


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Teacher TestimonialsThe Rains opens a rare and important vista on our nation's history. Rarely have I read something that enriched, inspired and informed me with such sheer power and grace! And anyone looking to understand the roots of black education will beenormously rewarded by this read!

John S. Wilson, Executive Director, Office of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities

The Rains is a bold, riveting and erudite work that is essential reading for every student and educator in Philadelphia as well as the nation.

Paul G. Vallas, Superintendent, Recovery School District of Louisiana

My students cannot put the novel down. It is the most amazing sight! You can

literally hear a pin drop when they come in and open their books. Fellow teachers havetold me that they constantly hear the students discussing the book in the hallways, thelunchroom, and their classrooms. I wanted to thank you for this novel. They are not

just reading a story. They are learning about extremely important events in our nations history.

Kelly Hanlon, Social Studies Teacher West Philadelphia High School

The Rains is a captivating story of a courageous generation whose bravery and love for justice have been marginalized in the American freedom narrative. It is a must read

for high school and post secondary educators and the students with whom they shareintellectual community. Dr. Ayesha Imani, Chief Executive Officer,

Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter School

"Professor Sulayman Clark's book, The Rains, is significant to the growing body of research pertaining to the Underground Railroad. It is a fascinating story of thecontributions of dedicated and committed African Americans in Philadelphia and their contributions to the Freedom Network. Although "The Rains" is a fictional account, it

provides vital information for both scholars and the general public." Charles L. Blockson

HistorianSulayman Clark, with his creative writing style and ability to tell a story, keeps thereader engaged and breathes fresh insight into an important era of American history and the courageous fight for freedom by Black Americans.

Dr. Rev. Calvin H. Sydnor, III, Editor, The Christian Recorder

Additional Testimonials Are Available


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Author Outreach

Dr. Sulayman Clark travels the country to speak with Administrators, Students, andCommunity groups about his experiences and inspirations for The Rains. Such a visitwould be beneficial to schools and teachers considering the use of The Rains as asupplemental reading for their courses, students currently reading the book, and bookclubs wishing to discuss in-depth the concepts and ideas put forth in The Rains.

Dr. Clark is also available for book signings at both large book stores and small, localshops with an interest in sharing this inspirational and emotional novel with theircommunities.

If you would like to schedule a visit from Dr. Sulayman Clark, please contact him via thefollowing information:

Dr. Sulayman ClarkP.O. Box 1475

Westchester, PA 19380Phone: 610-241-0087

Email: [email protected] Web: http://www.therains.org


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Bringing History to LifeAuthors Note to Teachers and Parents:

The use of history is to give value to the present and its moral duty.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Rains is a historical novel that is in every way, inspired by real life persons andactual events. It is a work of fiction that is nonetheless grounded in extensive historicalresearch. Thus I owe a significant debt of gratitude to various faculty members,archivists and administrators at Cheyney University and Harvard University who gaveme generous support and the means to conduct the archival research that under girdsthis closely interwoven and fact-based story.

My reasons for writing this novel may be of interest to my general readership and toparents and teachers in particular. I hope the latter will elect to use this novel asrecommended or supplemental reading for high school and collegiate courses inAmerican History, African American Studies, American literature and social studies. Iwant to assure such teachers that I wholeheartedly believe in the effectiveness of historical fiction and its power to stimulate learning, visualization and a sustainedinterest in a given historical period. More specifically, I believe in the pedagogical valueof historical novels that artfully and emotionally connect the reader with importanthistorical figures. In that regard, I have tried to be mindful of the adage that historicalfiction should be good fiction as well as good history.

However, I want students to be able to distinguish historical fact from the instances of

literary license that I have taken as I tried to tell a compelling and coherent story. Thus,the story is followed by a brief chronology of events that provides a timeline for thenovels historical sweep. Also included is a listing of key historical figures and theirrespective life spans. Through these means, I hope to encourage further study and helpreaders to differentiate actual historical personages from the novels fictionalcharacters. Finally, I have carefully authenticated and clearly identified (in bold type) thewritten and words of important historical figures (in verbatim). As the novels sub-titlesuggests, I want students to hear the actual voices for American liberty that inspiredthis book.

* * * * * * *I believe that many of historys lessons can be found in the efforts of our forbearers whoenvisioned new worlds and who today, beckon us to a flowering of our fullest humanity.They have much to teach us about how our world came into being and how we mightreshape it to better serve the common good. Herein lies the critical (and oftenoverlooked) linkage between history and hope. Through the years, I have come to agreewith Ralph Waldo Emerson who argued that, the use of history is to give value to thepresent and its moral duty . If that be true, I hope this novel will leave students (and


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adults alike) with a heightened sense of moral duty and a deep reverence for life thatcharacterized the real live historical persons about whom I have written. Now morethan ever, I believe these remarkable men and women are worthy subject matter tostimulate classroom discussion, independent study and guided reflection.

Historical research has convinced me that the moral foundations of our nation wereestablished by people of all ages, races and religions who responsibly exercised theblessings of liberty and who most importantly, were willing to extend those sameliberties to others. It was they who courageously kept the quest for a greater Americaalive. Today, that quest must be carried on by our young people and those who possessan understanding of the past. Such an understanding can enable them to see beyondnarrow self-interest and stretch their historical imagination in both a backward andforward direction.

Armed in this manner, students will be better prepared and inclined to address thechallenges and responsibilities of their times. I believe this type of historicalconsciousness can help them become more responsible citizens and responsive seekers of a better America and hopefully, a better world.

* * * * * * *In a related matter, I continue to have many reservations about how we approach the

study of history and how we introduce and interpret the phenomenon slavery to ouryoung people. I am also concerned about the widespread practice of dispassionatelyteaching history as an academic discipline that has little or no personal and culturalrelevance to the lives of students. I believe that we are continuing to overlook historysunique potential to fortify the existential grounding of young people. Moreover, we are

squandering its ability to contribute to the formation of positive self-identity and socialawareness. In essence, if we would teach history with both passion and precision, wecan assist students in understanding who they are as individuals and where they are inthe stream of time. Simply put, I want students to see their current educational strivingsin continuum and as an extension of an ongoing struggle to acquire, defend andmaintain basic freedoms.

Teachers of history, social studies and literature know full well that historical fiction hasa distinct power to breathe life into sometimes dull subject matter by using thepersuasiveness of creative storytelling. I did not intend to blur the line separating

historical fact from fiction. I did however, want to tell a memorable story would thatwould stimulate the moral sensitivities and intellectual curiosities of my readers.Following in the tradition of writers such as Harriet Beecher Stowe and William WellsBrown, I resolved to write this novel for broad public consumption; not for a smallcommunity of scholars engaged in the practice of talking to and writing for one another.


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Most of the characters in the novel are real and I have tried to portray them with thesame faults, foibles and imperfections that bedevil us all. They are placed in difficultpersonal circumstances and they move in a society that is in turmoil. Life is unfair, lawsare unjust and their daily existence is riddled with great danger and uncertainty. But,through it all, they strive to understand and meet the social obligations of their times

and heed the dictates of simple justice. Their natural instincts toward life, liberty andthe pursuit of happiness merge in interesting ways with their personal desires to leadmeaningful lives.

They were men and women of great courage, compassion and charity. Some gave time,some gave money and some gave their lives. They are due our homage, but not asromanticized heroes and heroines to be placed on psychological or marble pedestals. If there was true greatness in them, it was because there was goodness in them. That iswhy they are useful subjects for historical analysis and ethical reflection. That is whythey are worthy of remembrance.

After six years of intermittent writing, I finally completed The Rains with an intensifiedbelief that historical perspective and social consciousness are inextricably linked andmutually reinforcing. Together they are powerful weapons against the diseases of ignorance, hatred, bigotry and apathy. History, when carefully studied and astutelytaught, provides a fascinating vantage point from which we can observe the slow,grinding evolution of American democracy and understand the social forces that haveimpeded its progress, distorted its meaning and restricted its great humanitarianpromise. And, if we look hard enough, we can extract some very useful lessons andobserve many enlightening parallels to our contemporary conditions.

If this novel hits its pedagogical mark, it will fortify the educational pursuits of studentsand catalyze their interest in a more serious study of this historical period. And, if it isnot too extravagant a wish, maybe some of them will be inclined to join a new anddynamic successor generation of young scholars and teachers who are entering thefield, expanding the frontiers of knowledge and bringing creative teaching methods andfresh historical interpretations into the classroom. Such interpretations are criticallyimportant if we are to teach accurately about the African American odyssey in thiscountry. It is a bitter and brutal history that must be honestly told in ways that do notengender negative self-imaging and the cynicism, nihilism and racial polarization thatare found in the classroom and that permeate our broader society.

Observe the forward march of human history and you will find full-scale victimization.However, you will also find many moral victories. Examine African American history andyou will witness great tragedy. But look beyond the African American vale of tears, andyou will most assuredly discover and appreciate the compassion, intelligence, courageand triumph of a resilient and determined people. The American slave trade is an uglyand pernicious thing to behold in the bright light of historical examination. But, lookbeyond the shadows and you will find many whites who openly challenged and


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vehemently protested against that atrocious practice at every turn. And you will surelydiscover the depth of their humanity and appreciate their full-throated and unflinchingcommitment to American ideals.

I hope The Rains: Voices for American Liberty will heighten the educational and social

aspirations of young people of all races and religions. Hopefully it will prod them tocritically examine their own lives and better appreciate the freedoms they currentlyenjoy. Who can say? Maybe it will even expand their sense of moral duty andstrengthen their resolve to extend those same freedoms to others. I believe this is morethan wishful thinking. We sometimes underestimate and forget the value of role models(living and deceased) and the powerful testament of lives well lived.


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Letter of Support from Dr. Arlene Ackerman

The Rains Marketing Kit-V1

Documents

Transcript of The Rains Marketing Kit-V1