African-American children's books: A terrible incident shows — we need books celebrating black kids' hair
ESSAY - After the black barber called my son the n-word as the justification to shave him bald, I entered a state of shock -- then decided to write a book celebrating our children's kinky tresses...
God also imbues Sunne’s siblings, Earthe, Watre, and Winde with the powers over the soil, water and wind. But Sunne, is the only one with kinky hair. One day, Earthe, Watre and Winde tease Sunne for having different hair. Sunne does not want to be different so Sunne takes a stick and attempts to beat the kinks out of Sunne’s own hair. At the moment that Sunne beats the last spiral out… You can learn more about the story here.
The goal of the story is two-fold. First, it aims to inspire all children with kinky/coily hair — including young men and boys — to take pride in their hair that replicates the DNA spiral and grows towards the sun. Kinky hair is what Sudanese-American novelist, Kola Boof, passionately refers to as “the proof” that black people are God’s original children.
Second, the story aims to provide the lesson that we are all powerful in unique ways and that we need to appreciate and nurture each other’s varied gifts, if we are to survive and thrive. This is my humble attempt to make the world a more accepting and loving place for all children, including my own. Truly, this “black” book is meant for everyone.
Now, more than ever, African-American children need messages like the one contained in Sunne’s Gift in order to counteract the negative ideas about naturally kinky hair exhibited originally by comedian Sheryl Underwood and the trauma caused by school administrations such as the Deborah Brown Community School and Horizon Science Academy, which at one point banned natural hair styles such as afro-puffs, locks and twisted braids.
Together, we can raise confident, healthy and happy African-American children, if we inspire them to love their hair as a natural part of their beautiful selves.
Please support the kickstarter campaign to publish the story Sunne’s Gift and help make it a successful book for African-American children and those who believe in universal beauty.
Ama Yawson is a co-founder of www.joojos.com, an artisanal children’s shoe company. She is also the author of Sunne’s Gift, a children’s fable that honors afro-textured hair while providing important lessons about self-love and bullying prevention. Ms. Yawson earned a BA from Harvard University, an MBA from the Wharton School and a JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two sons.
You Might Like
