Jelani Memory thinks that fire-breathing dragons, cuddly bears, and fairy tales about princesses have their place in the kids’ media landscape—but that enough of that fantasy already exists. Rather, asks the author and entrepreneur, “Where are all the true stories? Who’s explaining what’s happening around the world?”
His quest to inform young children about the realities of the world urged him to write the book, A Kids Book About Racism. It would be distinct from the majority of kids’ books, peeling away the sugar coating and educating kids, 5 to 9, about racism “in all of its gravity and ugliness,” favoring facts and honesty over colorful illustrations and poppy designs.
The reason for starting this education early is because many children are already experiencing hardships, Memory says. Kids may be going through bullying, witnessing parents fighting, or dealing with the death of a grandparent, without knowing how to talk about it all. “Yes, we want to provide them the security and comfort they need,” he says, “but pretending like it’s not happening [is] creating more discomfort.” The books are a way to approach these issues. “We’re not really selling books. We’re selling the conversation that comes afterwards.”
Memory has now added podcasts and online classes to his educational armory, all geared toward the same goal of helping kids grasp tough concepts from an early age—and become better members of society for it. “They’re empowered to be better, to do better, to love those folks around them that are either like them or not like them at all,” he says. “And, most importantly, to love themselves the way that they are.”
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