One Book Stamped: Virtual Author Event- by Holly Raus

 

Last evening I attended the One Book Stamped: Virtual Author Event presented by the Athens-Clarke County Library featuring the authors of Stamped and Stamped for Kids: Jason Reynolds, Dr. Ibram X. Kendi and Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul. I was interested in tuning in because I read Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You in conjunction with the FCPL Staff Reading Globally Book Club. I gleaned some fascinating insights from the authors during the program.  Upon initially being approached by Dr. Kendi to write a kids version of his book, Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, Jason Reynolds unequivocally refused as he was afraid the task was way above his skill level. Dr. Kendi had been hearing from so many readers that the information in his book needed to be presented to youth so they could grow up with these ideas and he strongly felt that Jason had the voice to communicate it best to teens so he kept on asking until Jason finally agreed. Jason struggled with the material and even sought to quit but his editor convinced him to give it one more try and he was finally able to articulate the information in his own relatable voice. Dr. Cherry-Paul was the first choice of both Dr. Kendi and Jason to write the kid version of Stamped because she had written the Stamped Educator’s Guide.

 

Upon mention of being the target of Twitter detractors, Dr. Kendi said that he tries to recognize the difference between acknowledging that something is offensive and being personally offended. The authors strove to illustrate that “not being racist” and being “actively anti-racist” are not the same thing and they wish to encourage white people to use their white privilege to speak out with courage. To illustrate, Dr. Cherry-Paul noted that if she speaks up at a meeting, she will often get private messages from colleagues applauding her but she will no longer respond to these affirmations privately.  She feels that colleagues should be speaking up right alongside her.

 

Jason Reynolds clearly has a passion for kids and a gift for communicating with them. He says, “Children are the antidote to hopelessness.”  He laments that adults do not do enough listening. Studies show that each successive generation has a higher IQ so kids can teach us if we will let them. He challenges adults, “ To be the lighthouse and point the way, but we don’t have to man the ship”. Prove that you care about what the younger generation has to say by earning their trust and respect.

 

Seeing and hearing the authors speak about their ground breaking books enabled me to have a deeper understanding of their mission behind the different age leveled versions of Stamped and inspired me to do my part to morph from not being a racist to thinking and acting as an anti-racist.