Emma and The Children of Dunbar : The Story Behind the Books

In 1920, Emma E. Akin came to the oil boomtown of Drumright, Oklahoma to teach at the many elementary schools in the community. It was not until 1930, that the segregated Dunbar School was added to her roster. Having had no prior interaction with African-Americans, she was apprehensive about this new position. However, after a year of working with the faculty and students, she fell in love with this close-knit community.Frustrated at the lack of educational materials for young students that focused on the history and contributions of African-Americans, Mrs. Akin began writing stories about the students, faculty and families of Dunbar School, depicting them in the positive reality that she had come to know.

After years of rejection by publishers, The Negro American Series textbooks were published in 1938 by Harlow Publishing and distributed throughout the segregated schools.Emma and the Children of Dunbar tells the powerful story of how these brave individuals came together to create something extrodinary. While the book is targeted at young scholars, the story will inspire readers of every generation.Following Emma's death in 1975, her daughter Verma, honored her with these words, "Her insight into the educational needs of black children much preceded the events that followed the confrontations at Little Rock, Arkansas, and Selma, Alabama.

A former teacher said of her supervisor and principal, 'Mrs. Akin was 50 years ahead of her time.' The exact number of years may be questioned, but one must admit that she was a forward-looking person."