Author, Lillian G. Reeves
Aiken, SC
I felt compelled to write this book, Just Like Me, following the 2008 election of President Obama. His story brought to the front of the country's consciousness the story of biracial children and families, and he made visible, and said as much in his 2004 speech, a growing need to reject, critique, and take down dominant ideologies that say a "black child with a book is acting white". He challenged not only the dominant ideologies, but something that creeps into our homes and our schools unchallenged, which is the book publishing industry, and in particular, the children's book publishers who more often than not, publish books about kid heroes who are white. For too long, all the stories about young people in the world have reflected the success and the triumph of white children in white institutions, white neighborhoods, white schools, white privileges. For too long, stories have only shown one small group of Americans at play, at work, and at love. For those of us, however, who spend our lives with diverse populations of humans, as our friends, our family, our co-workers, our students, or ourselves -- we see the incredible impact this purposeful absence of characters of color has on young readers, young writers, and young dreamers. Additionally, speak to any parent of color, and you'll quickly understand how frustrating it is to run into a book store to find their child a birthday book, a reward book, a just-for-fun book, and not come across one story with a character of color being celebrated, loved, or written about.
For my own family and my own work, this issue is personal. When my niece asks for "straight hair" or says she "has the wrong color skin" or when my students of color say "they don't want what I got" when I suggest applying to medical schools in South Carolina, I feel compelled to respond, to act out, to make some noise. This book and this project are a part of that acting out.
I hope all of my family and friends will love this book and will love this project. I've benefited tremendously from the support and interest of peers, colleagues, and strangers who all feel compelled to recreate and contribute to a children's book industry that, as Obama asked us to do, rejects the idea that a black child with a book is acting white and also rejects the idea that a black child in a book is acting white. The beautiful lives of young people everywhere, as they struggle and succeed their way into teenagerhood and later adulthood must be given safe passage in the books they read, in the communities they visit and live in, and most importantly of all, in the schools they attend.
Thank you for your interest, for your support, and for your hope as we embark on this project.
Aiken, SC
I felt compelled to write this book, Just Like Me, following the 2008 election of President Obama. His story brought to the front of the country's consciousness the story of biracial children and families, and he made visible, and said as much in his 2004 speech, a growing need to reject, critique, and take down dominant ideologies that say a "black child with a book is acting white". He challenged not only the dominant ideologies, but something that creeps into our homes and our schools unchallenged, which is the book publishing industry, and in particular, the children's book publishers who more often than not, publish books about kid heroes who are white. For too long, all the stories about young people in the world have reflected the success and the triumph of white children in white institutions, white neighborhoods, white schools, white privileges. For too long, stories have only shown one small group of Americans at play, at work, and at love. For those of us, however, who spend our lives with diverse populations of humans, as our friends, our family, our co-workers, our students, or ourselves -- we see the incredible impact this purposeful absence of characters of color has on young readers, young writers, and young dreamers. Additionally, speak to any parent of color, and you'll quickly understand how frustrating it is to run into a book store to find their child a birthday book, a reward book, a just-for-fun book, and not come across one story with a character of color being celebrated, loved, or written about.
For my own family and my own work, this issue is personal. When my niece asks for "straight hair" or says she "has the wrong color skin" or when my students of color say "they don't want what I got" when I suggest applying to medical schools in South Carolina, I feel compelled to respond, to act out, to make some noise. This book and this project are a part of that acting out.
I hope all of my family and friends will love this book and will love this project. I've benefited tremendously from the support and interest of peers, colleagues, and strangers who all feel compelled to recreate and contribute to a children's book industry that, as Obama asked us to do, rejects the idea that a black child with a book is acting white and also rejects the idea that a black child in a book is acting white. The beautiful lives of young people everywhere, as they struggle and succeed their way into teenagerhood and later adulthood must be given safe passage in the books they read, in the communities they visit and live in, and most importantly of all, in the schools they attend.
Thank you for your interest, for your support, and for your hope as we embark on this project.