Although I was oblivious to it as a small child, my Swedish-American mother endured this curious statement from other white people from time to time: "Where did your boy get that curly hair?" they would ask.
"From his father!" she quipped with guarded annoyance. "Where else!?"
You see, no matter where I live, or who I am, I never really "fit in." The only way I accomplished such a status was when I accepted my Blackness and made a place for myself. Then I knew I could contribute to the society and be a part of making it better. Denying it because I was light skinned and could "pass" compared to my darker-skinned fellow humans never helped.
So when I wrote Badin and the Secret of the Saami, I could easily relate to the little African boy who grew up to become the famous African diasporan of Scandinavia. I did not need to put myself in his shoes. I WAS in his shoes. Like him, I struggled with racism and identity. Like him, I had a caring white mother who made sure I could have any amount of education and pursue all interests that I desired.
But I always knew I had to do something to help people of African descent feel good about themselves to take their place as contributors to their nations and communities.
With Badin and the Secret of the Saami, I want to show that not only should Blacks and Indigenous people feel good about their valuable history, but that ALL people can be inspired to make a better world and future for our children.
Please join me on this mission. Buy the Mini-Sagas, follow and read the character diaries. Two more Mini-sagas are on the way. New character diaries are uploaded every week. We have about a year until this graphic novel will be put on sale. I need your support by sharing, re-tweeting and spreading the word about this project.
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