The instructions: Choose two of your favorite children’s books. Arrive at school on this day at this time. Check-in at the school office. Walk down the hall to the appointed room. Knock on the door three times. Wait until a little person answers.
The task: I had been signed up to be the Mystery Reader for Simone’s class. Each week a new parent would knock on the door and read to the class. I wanted to make a good impression and read something diverse and fun. I picked My Name is Celia for my diversity and fun read and Olivia … And the Missing Toy for my plain old fun read.
The result: I walked inside the classroom and wasn’t sure what to say or do. The children immediately started to guess who I belonged to. Was it the black girl over there? She shook her head. Was it the black girl over there? Nope. She had an expression painted on her face that seem to say: Look, I’ve never seen this lady in my life.
I stood at the door for what seemed like forever, before the teacher called the students to the reading section. There were two rocking chairs and a rug. I took a seat in the big rocking chair, and Simone took a seat in the small rocking chair. I had been claimed. I was Simone’s Mom. Mystery over.
We had a blast. They asked a whole bunch of questions, more questions than most adults ask all day. They rolled on the floor when I mimicked a baby in the Olivia book and said ,”woo-she-ga-ga.” Say it again, they demanded. Each time I did the class fell out laughing.
The thoughts: At first didn’t know what to make of the little game the kids had played. Then I remembered when my mom would show up on the playground, all of my friends would try to figure out who was in trouble. (Back in those days, parents didn’t show up at the playground, unless someone was in trouble.) The kids in Simone’s classroom were curious and maybe a little confused. I asked Simone what she thought of me being the Mystery Reader. What I really wanted to know was if any of the kids had asked her about me.
“It was fun,” she said. I had to agree. “I had a ball.”
Walmart: Barbie House – Viad.TV by viadtv
I have no proof, but I bet this commercial was inspired by a real event. Enjoy!
What does ‘take it under advisement’ mean?
Simone, being an excellent journalist and asking me for clarification.
Young people like to read their favorite books over and over again. These are three of our favorites. Enjoy!
The Other Side
Written by Jacqueline Woodson
Illustrated by E. B. Lewis
A writer told me to read this book because it’s about racism, but there’s no mention of the word in the manuscript. A friendship develops across a racial divide. Clover, a black girl, lives beside a fence that segregates her town. Her mother tells her never to climb over to the other side because it isn’t safe.
On the other side, is a little white girl, Annie. Her mother also has told her not to climb over the fence.
The two girls see each other and introduce themselves one day. They don’t climb over the fence; they sit on it instead.
The last words leave hope that someone is going to tear down the fence one day. The illustrations in this book are absolutely gorgeous. I saw a presentation by E. B. Lewis, and he pointed out that the girls appear on separate pages at first and are separated by the seams. After they introduce themselves, they are always on the same page. Beautiful.
Zen Ties
By Jon J. Muth
This is another library find, and it has so many messages within its pages. When summer arrives, Koo visits his uncle, Stillwater. Koo, a haiku-speaking panda, learns how to conserve resources and help those in need. Stillwater encourages Koo, and his friends Addy, Michael, and Karl to help an elder neighbor, and their kindness is rewarded in ways they could never imagine.
Zen Ties is a story about thoughtfulness and shows children how they can touch lives.
Simone and Nadia always point out how Stillwater, the elder panda, is so much larger than Koo and the children in the book, and I can’t get enough of the haiku.
My favorite:
Nearing my visit’s end
summer now tastes of apple tea
I will keep my cup
My Name is Celia/Me Llamo Celia
Written by Monica Brown
Illustrated by Rafael Lopez
Boom boom boom! beat the congas.
Clap clap clap! go the hands.
Shake shake shake! go the hips.
This is one of the many musical lessons Simone and Nadia learned when they attended a bilingual reading of My Name is Celia/Me Llamo Celia. Author Monica Brown and illustrator Rafael Lopez entertained a diverse crowd of parents and children with this vibrant book about the Cuban-born Queen of Salsa. Brown read in English, while Lopez read in Spanish. Azucar, or sugar, was one of the many Spanish words Simone and Nadia understood.
The book’s lyrical writing reveals the life of of Celia Cruz. She learns as a child in Havana that she has the gift for song, rhythm and dance, and she rises to worldwide musical acclaim. Celia shows how hard work overcomes adversity. For example, Cruz couldn’t participate in some singing contests because of the color of her skin. She didn’t let that stop her and was honored by presidents. In the end, she sold gold records, won Grammy awards and earned a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.
I fell in love with the book, because the lines read like those often heard at poetry slams.
Close your eyes and listen, the book begins. My voice feels like feet skipping on cool wet sand, like running under a waterfall, like rolling down a hill. My voice climbs and rocks and dips and flips with the sounds of congas beating and trumpets blaring.
The Mixed Roots Film and Literary Festival is inspiring. All things are possible at the festival.
Have a story? Write it, perform it, film it, or sing it. We all know everyone has a story to tell. I, for one, am delighted two Mixed Chicks created the festival four years ago. Held at the Japanese American National Museum in the heart of Little Tokyo, the festival is a home of sorts. It’s a safe place, a place where anyone can be whatever she wants to be.
The panel discussion I moderated went well. Mixed Messages in Media is a broad topic. The panelists, though, came ready talk about the pluses and minuses of being in newspapers, magazines, television and film.
From left to right in the photo, the distinguished panelists:
Laura Kina, an associate professor of art, media, and design and distinguished Vincent de Paul Professor at DePaul University, co-founder of the Critical Mixed Race Studies Conference in Chicago and MAVIN board member.
Dr. Jennifer Noble, vice president of the Multiracial Americans of Southern California and a professor of psychology at Pasadena City College.
Me.
Heidi Durrow, co-founder and co-producer of the Mixed Roots Film and Literary Festival and the Mixed Chicks Chat. Ashe is the author of the New York Times best-selling book The Girl Who Fell From The Sky.
Susan Straight, author of eight books, including Take One Candle Light A Room. She was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship to work on Highwire Moon, and a Lannan Prize was an immense help when working on Take One Candle Light a Room.
We covered everything from recent and magazine and newspaper features to the movie Bridesmaids to requests for multiracial families for reality television series. (I was too busy moderating to take good notes.)
With the added media interest comes a bevy of pitfalls. Do we tell our own story or allow others to tell it for us? Should multiracial organizations be the gatekeeper for families when media representatives request help? If so, are they taking on some kind of liability? And what’s up with Ebony, until recently, America’s decidedly black magazine? Are the editors there now supporting multiracial families?
It’s impossible to solve problems in an hour. We all know there are no definitive answers. Meanwhile, the conversation continues. Feel free to answer any of the questions above in the comment section. I’d love to read your answers.
Speaking of hair, The New York Times provides this glimpse into why all of those natural hair YouTube channels and web sites have flourished. The reporter quotes Curly Nikki and Kimmaytube. Enjoy!
