Memoir Update, Frontline, Children’s Books

Exciting News!

Fear of Flying

Fear of Flying

Erica Jong, author of Fear of Flying and many more books, has agreed to write a comment for my book. I told the members of one of my book groups tonight, and shared the news at a reception at Westport Writers Workshop this evening. I’m thrilled to share the news with you.

Now if Professor John Lemly, who teaches African literature at Mount Holyoke, will write a foreword, I’ll be in heaven. Miggs Burroughs, Westport artist, photographer, and creative graphic designer, is working on the cover. I expect the book to be out in October.

Marcelle Soviero, my teacher and editor, has asked to interview me on her radio program in late October. I have two talks scheduled in November and more in the works, thanks to Aline Weiller, my publicist.

Boko Haram

Frontline last night had a half hour segment on Boko Haram in Nigeria. It was horrific – not mainly what Boko Haram is doing, but what the security forces supposedly fighting the insurgents are doing. They are rounding up young men in towns where Boko Haram has been, accusing and killing them. It reminds me of what happens too frequently to young black men in the U.S. when the police who are supposed to protect, instead attack and even kill them.

TEAM Westport

Rainbow Butterflies

Rainbow Butterfies

TEAM Westport is supporting an initiative to have more books that highlight children of color in our public library and in school libraries. Our goal is to have these books in the hands of children and parents, not just on the shelves, and have them be a regular part of the library’s programs.

We’re looking for books that have children of color in major roles, not because they’re of color, but because they’re children – books that feature children of color doing the same things that all children do, featured with other children doing children’s things.

I don’t know the book in the picture but I would guess it holds a message about diversity

I want to see a book about a child of color playing with friends, arguing with siblings, going to school, getting in trouble, being heroic. Not focusing on diversity but on universal children’s themes.

If you have suggestions for books or for ways to make these books attractive to all children, not only children of color, please let me know.

Author: Catherine Onyemelukwe

Author, blogger, speaker. Born in New York, grew up in mid west United States, lived in Nigeria for 24 years, back in U.S. since 1986. Advocate for racial justice.

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