Writing A to Z: Words that Remind Me I’m Free
Last year I created a children’s book that I am so proud of! It’s called A to Z: Words that Remind me I’m Free.
Why I Wrote this Children’s Book
I wrote it when there was a high increase of banned books that affirmed Black identity. Writing this book was my way of adding to these needed books that proclaim and celebrate Black culture and memory.
This little book was written for the kids because they come first, but honestly, this book feeds my soul. My inner child is nourished by the melodic rhymes that flow across each page. I wish I had this book as a child because it encourages me to live unapologetically.
For each letter of the alphabet, a word or two is written as reminder to cultivate love and respect for self and community. This children’s book is really an entry point to spark their imagination and encourage dialogue with their parents about what it means to be melanin-rich with African ancestry.
If kids are able to hold on to these alphabetized words as reminders great but the wish is for them to be inspired enough to choose their own words to celebrate who they are. Children (and us adults) should recognize our power to define our cultural identity beyond how others label us.
This is important because as Black people we are socialized through media, entertainment, and education that Black is synonymous with poor, slave, inferior, unintelligent, criminal, etc. This is horrible as it diminishes self-worth and discourages the discovery of self and our history prior to chattel slavery.
I am proud of this children’s book because it simultaneously reflects my vulnerability and my truth. I felt vulnerable writing these words as I felt ashamed for needing to be reminded of our greatness as Black people and African Americans. Yet in writing this book I felt unimaginable strength and courage in being able to communicate what my spirit and soul need to feel peace and worthiness.
My hope is that these words fill young and old readers with pride and power to live in their authenticity.
Realizing my Freedom
In the process of writing this book, I realized my ability to prioritize values I take pride in and associate with being Black. I also felt encouraged to go beyond the social abstraction and negative conceptions of Blackness by offering the words Melanated Magnificence.
I truly believed I invoked this identity of Melanated Magnificence as the alphabetized reminders in this book reclaim our true nature as brilliant creators. By writing and designing A to Z: Words that Remind Me I’m Free on my own, I found strength in bringing my idea to light.
I am also proud of A to Z because I used my own illustrations and designed the entire book in canva.
The process of creating this book is a reminder in itself that I can do wonderful things and you can too.
What have you created that reminds you of your power and brilliance? Or, what do you want to create to remind you of your power and brilliance?
