My daughter, Haelee was given the chance to stand on stage with 100 Black Children’s Book Authors (including herself) as part of Lit for Black Kids Black History Month programming (Black Kid Lit). Brianna Perkins, Founder, Lit for Black Kids has a personal mission to get young Black and Brown children to read more. She recognized that part of the problem is that they can't see themselves in the books that they read. This is especially true when you consider that a mere 13.8% of books published by major publishing companies (e.g. Harper Collins, Simon and Schuster, etc) featured black characters for year end 2021 according to a February 2022 report distributed by the Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC). Those things in and of themselves is why she founded Lit for Black Kids and started the Black Kid Lit series. The Black Kid Lit series was featured in stories by CBS Boston and the Boston Globe.
Brianna selected my daughter, Haelee as one of the readers during the course of the event. Haelee was allowed to read her award winning and best selling children’s book, The Rules of a Little Boss: A book of self-love on February 4, 2022. Haelee’s reading was well received by participants and viewers. They were amazed at her degree of maturity given that she’s just 14 years old. But not only that, they were amazed to find that it’s me who has been raising her. Ghenet Mogos, Casa Esperanza Montessori Charter School (Casa) resultantly reached out and asked if my daughter and I would be willing to come today to read to the children in honor of Read Across America Day. I happily accepted on behalf of us both while sharing that I would be there in a support role only.
Brianna thanked all of the authors and supporting parent’s on March 1, 2022 for their support in making the Black Kid Lit series a success. I personally rejected her expression of gratitude because it is I that owe her my gratitude. I say that because Brianna allowed my daughter to secure her own moment in black history. But not only that, she opened up a door for her as previously prefaced.
Moving along, I've heard oft times that a woman can't raise a man or rather that a man can't raise a woman. I'm here to say that it's untrue because my Granny and my Mother raised me. But not only that, they cumulatively gave me the tools that I needed to raise my daughter and I believe that I've been doing a good job at it. And for those of you that say that you can’t find quality children’s books that are written by black authors, you need only look too Lit For Black Kids. Happy Read Across America Day and thank you Brianna.
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