The Reading in Color program began in 2016 at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. Created by Outreach Coordinator, Jasmine McNeil, this started out as a weekly book club with six fifth-grade girls at an inner-city elementary school. The objective was to create a book club that promoted diverse characters in a positive light as a way to connect with reluctant readers and to increase literacy skills in students that were behind.

As the program grew, so did the popularity and the number of schools requesting it. In 2018, Reading in Color was branded and a team of library staff was formed to meet the need at additional schools. The main community partner for this successful program is Communities in Schools.

Each week, students ranging in grades third through eight, received a weekly book club that not only helped with literacy skills but focused on self-esteem and social-emotional learning. From games and activities, group work and open discussions, students were able to express themselves and collaborate with their peers.

In 2020, Reading in Color won the Mayor’s Mentoring Alliance Award, for “Best Mentoring Collaboration” for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and Communities in Schools.

Since the pandemic, the Reading in Color team has shifted its focus from book clubs to social-emotional learning activities and providing Communities in Schools families with community and library resources. It was necessary to shift the focus with the constant change of virtual learning. The team wanted to find a way to continue to engage with the students previously served, as well as new students, without adding to their “burnout” of virtual learning.

The team began one-on-one Reading Buddy sessions by request. The books chosen continue to feature and highlight characters of color.  “Reading in Color Shorts” was created as short videos that provide either a recommended book that features characters of color or highlighted library resources. These “shorts” are shared monthly with community partners.

As the team plans for the upcoming school year, there is hope that in-person programming will begin, book clubs will resume, as well as the expansion of programs created during the pandemic.

A special shout out to the ladies that continue to make this small team a huge success and an even greater impact in the community:

Jasmine McNeil (Outreach), Sydney Porter (Plaza Midwood Library), LaShai Thompson (Independence Regional), Janai Thompson (Allegra Westbooks Regional), Amrita Patel (Outreach) and Karina Blackburn (University City).

Check out the Reading in Color impact video here.

Also, keep up on our monthly Reading in Color shorts by visiting the Reading in Color Playlist on the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s YouTube Page.

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This blog was written by Jasmine McNeil, outreach coordinator, at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

This blog was written as part of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's Black Lives Matter program initiative. Learn  more about the program and corresponding events here.

The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement is historic, with people globally embracing the movement's mission: advocate for the rights of Black people in America; to stand up to injustices inflicted upon Black Americans; to build a more just and equitable world for Black communities. So, how does it compare to the Civil Rights Movement? What can we learn from older members of our communities that we can apply to the BLM movement?

May is Older American's Month and a chance to celebrate senior communities, aging friendly & gracefully, and engaging with older adults. Aside from celebrating the older members of our community, it is also a chance to learn. Learn about how they built their lives, overcame trials and tribulations, and what they think of the evolving world around them. The Civil Rights Movement spanned over 20 years, from 1947 to 1968, with advocates from the East to West coast -- and around the world. And, while there are people who dedicate their life to documenting history, not all people prioritize learning about the life and history of their older family and/or community members. With the onset of a global pandemic -- older adults are at risk of isolation, and the need to connect is more than ever right now. While there aren't many silver linings to the pandemic, one good thing that can come from it is the opportunity to reconnect to distant relatives and friends.

It can be easy to postpone having conversations with loved ones about their life in an increasingly busy world. We also don't want to be intrusive in our quest to learn from older community members, so be sure to connect with people you have a relationship with. Or, seek out people (through church or family friends or other organizations you're affiliated with) who want to engage and share their experience. No matter your approach, please remember: Learning from our older community members isn't a right but rather a privilege.

We have a lot to learn, so active listening is the key and access to interview questions that support your genealogical efforts. Familysearch.org offers an updated, extensive list of questions to start your listening & learning process. Some questions include: How old were you during the Civil Rights Movement? Where were you living at the time? What was your community like? Don't feel obligated to use pre-made interview questions! Sometimes conversations can flow naturally, and we can take time to absorb what is being shared.

Some other useful tips for documenting oral histories:

● If permissions are granted, decide how you're going to record the interview.

● Consider having a photo or artifact to help jog memories

● Share interview questions in advance (so the person you're interviewing isn't caught off guard and has time to prepare what they want to share)

● Ask open-ended questions

● Ask if you have permission to share what you learn (some people may want confidentiality, and that is their right)

● Consider the time of day and length of the interview. Recounting memories, whether they are positive or negative, can take a lot of energy. Be considerate of the interviewee's health & time.

If you're interested in genealogy or want more resources on interviewing people to learn about local history, contact the Robinson Carolina Room for tips.

Access genealogy Resources

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This blog was written by Amrita Patel, library outreach coordinator.

Think you know all there is to know about Queen Charlotte? Think again.

Ever since Prince Harry wed Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018 (which is coincidentally Queen Charlotte’s birthday – the Queen was born in 1744), the public has been obsessed with uncovering the history of the monarchy’s controversial, and highly debatable, first biracial Queen. Many have drawn comparisons between her and the Duchess of Sussex, Mrs. Markle herself. The Queen’s popularity and questions about her identity continue to surge since Netflix’s hit Bridgerton series debuted in December 2020. Was Queen Charlotte as whimsical as her recent on-screen portrayal? Was she a doting and adoring wife to her husband, King George III?

It’s time to finally find out.

In celebration of the Queen City namesake’s birthday on May 19, 2021, Dr. Stephanie Myers, author of the book Invisible Queen, will explore the remarkable and unexamined parts of the Queen’s life. The conversation on Wednesday, May 19 kicks off online at 7 p.m. and will discuss Queen Charlotte as an accomplished and multilingual queen with African heritage, a mother of 15 children, an abolitionist, a patron of the arts and a defender of the impoverished. Participants are sure to learn a story about the Queen they weren't told in standard history class.

Interested in attending this program? Find program details below:

Queen Charlotte: America’s Biracial, Abolitionist Queen
Wednesday, May 19, 2021
7 p.m., online
Click here to register (registration is FREE).

Read Invisible Queen: Biography of Sophia Charlotte, Queen of Britain and Ireland, 1761-1818 by Dr. Stephanie Myers today. Find the book in our catalog here.

Questions about the event? Please contact Rachel Kubie, reference librarian at SouthPark Regional Library, by phone at (704) 416-5400 or by email at rkubie@cmlibrary.

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Portrait of Queen Charlotte by Allan Ramsay

Welcome home to South County Regional Library.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library proudly announced the re-opening of its South County Regional  branch at 5801 Rea Road, Charlotte, NC 28277, on March 1, 2021.

Now, it's time to celebrate!

Bring the pride of the South County community home to the library with a spirit week of themed, socially-distanced activities for all ages May 16-22, 2021. Customers can participate at their leisure in the following scheduled branch and online activities*:

• Monday,  May 17 - Color Your Library: Pick up a coloring sheet to complete at home. Return it to us and we’ll post it in the library.
  
  Click here for more details
  
   
• Tuesday, May 18 - An Evening with Jim Gallucci: On Tuesday, May 18, from 6-7 p.m., metal sculptor and artist Jim Gallucci will discuss the inspiration behind the new "Open Book, Open Mind," public artwork that is now a staple at South County Regional Library.
  
  Click here to register
  
   
• Wednesday, May 19 - Book Lovers Day: Stop in to fill out a paper heart with a title you love & we’ll share it in-branch and online.
  
  Click here for more details
  
   
• Friday-Saturday, May 21-22 – Character Days: Dress up as your favorite book character and take a picture in your favorite area of the new library.
  
  Click here for more details

*Note: All Library locations are currently operating under Level 2 of the Library's multilevel re-opening plan. To see what services are available in Level 2, please click here.

 

Discover what's new at South County

Finding work in the United States right now is, in short, overwhelming. Before COVID-19 made its way stateside, looking for a job still wasn’t easy. However, the uncertainty of the coming months (and years) is adding new and unprecedented challenges to anyone’s job search.

Beneficially, some career-related obstacles that may have been a concern before have now become non-issues. Let’s talk about some of the old “problems” that you can now safely navigate without the worry of harming your career development.

A gap in your resume

Whether you are unemployed for two months or two years, any career gap that started in 2020 is a non-issue. The COVID-19 pandemic and the societal turmoil experienced in its wake have become one of the most widely shared human experiences in the history of our species.

By the end of April 2020, it was estimated that around 30 million Americans filed for unemployment. For the rest of our lives, every hiring manager in the world is going to remember this disruption – and any gap(s) in your work history will be extremely common and understood.

A major shift in career trajectory

Before 2020, the strongest resumes demonstrated work history in progressively responsible roles. Advancement in one’s chosen field was a major factor towards a candidate’s suitability for mid-to-high-level positions.

Now, the importance of progressive advancement within the next few years is plummeting. Much like the resume gap, a shift in career trajectory will be exceedingly common. Before the pandemic, many job seekers were reluctant to take a job that didn’t directly contribute to their career advancement. Job seekers now have fewer choices available as many industries struggle to survive the post-pandemic economy.

Whether your professional field will return to its pre-pandemic operations is difficult to predict. But there are still jobs available if you’re searching for work - essential services are in desperate need of employees right now. Suppose you are willing and able to take a job in an essential industry. In that case, even if it’s an entry-level position, it will not hurt your future job prospects. In fact, working in an essential field during this time is arguably an impressive accomplishment in your work history and is something to take pride in.

A long hiring process

If you need to get to work as soon as possible, a long hiring process is going to be challenging to endure. However, it’s important to remember that this is NORMAL right now. People are not getting hired within days (or even weeks) while you are being left behind. The speed of hiring decisions is not something you can control (and never was). Suppose you can accept that hiring will take a while, without worrying that it’s because there is something you are doing wrong. In that case, you can focus your efforts on the aspects of your job search that you can control.

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Job Help Center offers many services that can aid you in your job search. Be sure to check the calendar for our virtual programs. If you want a resume professional to review your resume, you can email it to [email protected].

Don’t forget to check out the Library’s free digital resources to make the most of your time at home. Stay safe, stay home, and let’s lookout for one another while we navigate these difficult times.

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This blog post was written by Lorraine Ficarrotta, senior library assistant at the Main Library’s Job Help Center

The Interlibrary Loan service (ILL) at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library will resume May 17, 2021*.   

• Any requests submitted during service suspension, 3/16/20 – 5/16/21, will need to be resubmitted in order to be processed 
• ILL still incurs a $2 fee per received item. This is in addition to any fees imposed by lending libraries 
• Microfiche/microfilm requests will remain suspended.  

*Please be prepared to pay for fees by credit or debit card, online or in-person.  The library locations are not handling cash at this time.

Click Here for more information

To login or register for an Interlibrary Loan account on May 17, click here 

Desplácese hacia abajo para ver la versión en español

Summer is a great time for families to spend time together and develop a love of reading and learning. Summer should be all about fun and our Summer Break program can help provide opportunities to read, be creative, develop social skills, learn new things, and so much more!

Summer Break: Read, Learn, Explore is available online.

Summer Break includes five activities in addition to reading that help families and communities connect and learn new things. Play and Write are even Every Child Ready to Read pre-literacy skills!

• Read books, graphic novels, e-books or magazines, or listen to an audiobook. It all counts!
• Create: try a new recipe, illustrate a story, make a time capsule, plant a seed, just a few ideas to get those creative juices flowing.
• Explore: discover a new library resource, find your new favorite book with our booklists, picnic at a park or visit a Storywalk, make the time to explore your world.
• Give: Here is your opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life.  Help with family chores, clean up your neighborhood, chat with a faraway family member, the possibilities are endless.
• Play: dance to your favorite song, hold a mini Olympics with your friends, play a game, just have fun!
• Write: write a story, send a card to someone you love, practice writing your name (cursive anyone?)!

Summer Slide

The library offers several ways to prevent the Summer Slide. Over the summer, children and teens can fall behind on critical reading skills. The library is full of fun, engaging books. Don’t know what to read? Librarians are ready to help. There is nothing we like more than talking about books. Stop by your nearest library for recommendations or visit our online catalog. The library also offers a wide variety of programs: everything from online storytimes and book clubs, to programs helping you plan for college and career.

This summer, take the time to find the perfect place to read outside. Will you choose a park, a garden, your backyard, or some other amazing location? Take a picture and share on social media with the hashtags #cmlsummerbreak, #cmlibrary.

Comments? Questions?  

Are you having problems with the Summer Break 2021 website or your account?  Do you have questions about the program?  Feel free to chat with us online or email us at [email protected] for help or feedback.  

The 2021 Summer Break program is brought to you by Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. Additional support comes from Wendy’s and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation with Spanish translations sponsored by Norsan Media.

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This blog was written by Angela Arnold, Summer Bream team co-lead for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

Vacaciones de verano: leer, aprender, explorar

Del 7 de junio al 14 de agosto de 2021

El verano es un gran momento para que las familias pasen tiempo juntas y fomenten el amor por la lectura y el aprendizaje. El verano debería ser divertido; y nuestro programa de vacaciones de verano puede ofrecer oportunidades para leer, ser creativo, desarrollar habilidades sociales, aprender cosas nuevas ¡y mucho más!

Vacaciones de verano: leer, aprender, explorar está disponible en línea.

El programa de vacaciones de verano incluye cinco actividades, además de leer, que ayudan a que las familias y las comunidades se conecten y aprendan cosas nuevas. ¡Jugar y escribir incluso son habilidades previas a la alfabetización de “Todos los niños listos para leer”!

• Leer libros, novelas gráficas, libros electrónicos o revistas, o escuchar un audiolibro. ¡Todo suma!
• Crea: prueba una nueva receta, ilustra una historia, haz una cápsula del tiempo o planta una semilla; estas son solo algunas ideas para hacer aflorar la creatividad.
• Explora: descubre un nuevo recurso de la biblioteca, encuentra tu nuevo libro favorito en nuestros catálogos de libros, haz un pícnic en un parque o visita un StoryWalk; tómate el tiempo para explorar tu mundo.
• Da: esta es tu oportunidad de marcar la diferencia en la vida de alguien.  Ayuda con las tareas domésticas, limpia tu vecindario, habla con un familiar lejano... Las posibilidades son infinitas.
• Juega: baila tu canción favorita, organiza una miniolimpiada con tus amigos, juega un juego... ¡Solo diviértete!
• Escribe: escribe una historia, envía una tarjeta a alguien que quieres o practica escribir tu nombre (¿alguien sabe escribir en cursiva?)

Desliz de verano

La biblioteca ofrece varias maneras de prevenir el “desliz de verano”. Durante el verano, los niños y los adolescentes pueden retrasarse con sus habilidades críticas de lectura. La biblioteca está llena de libros divertidos y fascinantes. ¿No sabes qué leer? Los bibliotecarios están para ayudarte. No hay nada que nos guste más que hablar sobre libros. Pasa por tu biblioteca más cercana para recibir recomendaciones o visita nuestro catálogo en línea. La biblioteca también ofrece una amplia variedad de programas: desde cuentos en línea y clubes de lectura hasta programas que te ayudan a planificar tu carrera y tu universidad.

Este verano, tómate un tiempo para encontrar el lugar perfecto para leer al aire libre. ¿Elegirás un parque, un jardín, tu patio o algún otro lugar increíble? Toma una fotografía y compártela en las redes sociales con las etiquetas #cmlsummerbreak y #cmlibrary.

¿Tienes comentarios o preguntas?  

¿Tienes problemas con el sitio web del programa de vacaciones de verano 2021 o con tu cuenta?  ¿Tienes preguntas sobre el programa?  No dudes en hablar con nosotros en línea o por correo electrónico a [email protected] para recibir ayuda o comentarios.  

El programa de vacaciones de verano 2021 llega a ti gracias a la biblioteca Charlotte Mecklenburg. Contamos con respaldo adicional de Wendy’s y de la fundación de la biblioteca Charlotte Mecklenburg, con traducciones al español patrocinados por Norsan Media.

This blog was written as part of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's Black Lives Matter program initiative. Learn  more about the program and corresponding events here.

You have seen her. You may know her. She may even be you. She is fierce and fearless and amazingly resilient. She is the backbone of her family and a pillar in the community. She is unflappable, unfailing. She is incredible! She is the Strong Black Woman and she is…a myth. 

Singer-songwriter Alicia Keys penned “Superwoman” in 2007, a single from her third studio album, As I Am. The song, which quickly became a girl-power anthem, earned Keys both a Grammy and NAACP Image Award Nomination. It became the intro at WNBA games with a special video that featured clips of Keys performing the song in concert, interspersed with videos of players in games, practices, and personal lives. While the ballad is catchy, inspirational, and a mantra even, should it be? By listening closely to the lyrics, it becomes apparent, despite the façade, the heroine is overburdened with life and with hiding the fact that she is, in fact, overburdened. Sadly, the same is true for many Black women who strive to live up to the Strong Black Woman trope. 

On May 22, 1962, Malcolm X addressed a group of Black people in Los Angeles, California, in which he spoke to the plight of Black women. He said, “The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the Black woman. The most neglected person in America is the Black woman.” This remains one of his most often quoted quotes by Malcolm X. The snippet resonates with Black women so much that Beyoncé sampled it in her 2016 Lemonade album. 

Often referenced without context, this highly quoted portion of Malcolm X’s speech was delivered during the funeral service of Ronald Stokes, a man killed by LAPD. The remarks were about Black women and self-hate and parallels an excerpt of Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God. She wrote, “The mule finds itself tortured and burdened with hardship for no reason other than the sake of burdening it. With no voice or agency of its own, the mule reminds her of the black woman in America who must suffer and endure.” But why must Black women endure? The stigma surrounding mental health in the Black community often prevents Black people from seeking professional help. Unfortunately, cultural norms dictate that Strong Black Women suffer in silence.

The societal stigma surrounding mental illness is not the only barrier preventing Black women from seeking help. Other obstacles include financial barriers and the lack of adequate providers who have experience with the unique circumstances that Black women face, among others. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Black women are more likely to report feeling sad and hopeless sometimes. Still, very few Black adults (men and women) receive the mental health care they need. 

Fortunately, people like Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, founder of Therapy for Black Girls, are working diligently to make therapy more relevant and attainable for Black women. Its website describes Therapy for Black Girls as “an online space dedicated to encouraging the mental wellness of Black women and girls.” The site includes a blog, a podcast, and most importantly, a directory of over 800 providers throughout the United States. 

Mental health transcends psychological and emotional well-being. All too often, Black women take on too many burdens of life without adequate self-care, which can lead to problems with one’s physical well-being. Left unchecked, stress, anxiety, and depression can lead to obesity, leading to hypertension (high blood pressure), cardiovascular disease, and other issues. 

The idea of the Strong Black Woman is a conundrum indeed as there is inherent good in strength, Blackness, and womanhood, but when that ideology does more harm than good, solutions should be explored. Black women are often expected to pour so much into their families, careers, churches, and communities without pouring back into themselves. As the saying goes, “you can’t pour from an empty cup.” 

To learn more about issues affecting the mental health of Black women, please see the below reading list:

Mental Health Resources for Strong Black Women

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This blog post was written by Alesha Lackey, children’s services manager at Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library. 

On Monday, May 17, 2021, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library will move to expand services under Level 2 of its multilevel re-opening plan to include re-opening material book drops. Customers will be able to return items to the Library material book drops during and outside of normal operating hours, a move that aligns with current guidance on the handling of Library materials.

The Library will reinstate its Interlibrary Loan service (ILL) which allows customers to request items the Library doesn’t carry from other libraries for loan and with a fee of $2 per received item. Customers who originally submitted an ILL request between March 16, 2020-May 16, 2021, should resubmit their requests for processing. Requests for microfiche/microfilm remain suspended.

Note: Please be prepared to pay for fees by credit or debit card, online or in-person.  Library locations are not handling cash at this time.

Click here for frequently asked ILL questions

For more information on or to register for an Interlibrary Loan account, please click here.

The Library will eliminate the 24-hour quarantine period for returned items, following guidance from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. This means materials will move through holds faster for customers waiting “in line” for materials. Although the Library is eliminating its quarantine period for returned items, there is no need for customers to “clean” or disinfect materials.

For more information about available Expanded Level 2 services, please click here.

Customers can still enjoy holds pickup, the in-person browsing of books and materials and make reservations to use express computers at designated branches. Access to digital resources and participation in the Library’s many programs, events, services and more for children, teens, adults, Outreach and the Job Help Center remain available in online and virtual formats.

To find information about the Library’s exciting programs and events, please visit the Library calendar here.

Last September, the Library implemented social distancing and safety measures that included the installation of plexiglass safety shields at customer service points and the removal of leisure seating. Customers and staff are required to wear face masks or coverings as mandated by Mecklenburg County.  Library staff continue to remind customers to abide by the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) 6-foot social distancing guidelines. Please note: Seating remains unavailable.

Additional safety measures include:

• Regularly scheduled cleaning of facilities and surfaces in accordance with CDC recommendations.
• Self-checkout stations available for customers to check out their own materials.

The Library continues to incorporate in-person services in a responsible way that focuses on safety. Follow us on social media or visit the Library’s blog at cmlibrary.org/blog for updated information on the continued re-opening of services.

The Library will continue to open under these operational hours:

• Monday-Thursday - 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
• ​Friday and Saturday - 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• ​Sunday - closed

Note: The Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room is closed for in-person services, but remains open by phone at 704-416-0150 and online for virtual reference at [email protected] Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Here’s what’s available during expanded Level 2 services*:

• Face masks/coverings as REQUIRED per Mecklenburg County directives. The Library is aware of the May 14, 2021 Executive Order by NC Governor Roy Cooper lifting the indoor face covering mandate. However, the Library aligns its policy with the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) which currently requires face coverings while on County property.
• Managed maximum number of customers in a branch at a time
• Use of social distancing safety markers
• Ability to browse for materials
• Option to use express computers (through in-branch reservation only) at branch locations EXCEPT Cornelius, Davidson and ImaginOn Libraries
• Streamlined self-checkout designed for quick in-and-out and safe, socially-distanced interactions.
• Mobile printing is available for pickup from the branch. Learn more here.
• Wi-Fi access is available outside the facility 24/7
• Free mobile hotspots are available for customers to place on hold for checkout for seven (7) days at a time
• Materials and holds available for pickup inside the branches.
• All checkouts are self-checkouts. You can scan your card (physical or on the app) and the materials. You will not need to enter your pin.
• All material/book drops are open
• Programming continues online

*Services subject to change

Community and study rooms – room reservations are unavailable until further notice.

Outreach programming – continues online or virtual, as coordinated between our Outreach team and the organization.

Programming and events – all programs and events for children, teens, adults and the Job Help Center remain online in virtual formats. Check here for the weekly schedule or visit the Calendar page on our website. 

We’re here for you online or on the phone.
You can reach our online chat during regular operating hours at cmlibrary.org and click on Ask a Librarian. Our telephone reference team is also available during normal operating hours at (704) 416-0101, or you can contact your local branch location directly - visit the Branches page for more information.

This blog was written as part of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's Black Lives Matter program initiative. Learn  more about the program and corresponding events here.

In my role as an Instructional Assistant at Druid Hills Academy, I have come to rely on the Plaza Midwood Library as an oasis. Books in the children's department feature characters that our scholars can relate to. They can see African American characters, Hispanic characters, animal characters, funny characters, and smart characters...characters that children can relate to, where children see themselves. An affirmation. Combing the shelves and finding Langston Hughes for children is joyful. What’s even better is hearing children read My People with conviction at seven and eight years old. Thank you, Langston.

The day the jury was announcing the verdict in the George Floyd murder (although I did not know this on the way to school), I had picked out the book Abuela by George Dorros. A grand tale of a grandma and granddaughter flying around a city seeing grandeur in trees, parks, stores, skyscrapers, and the like. We even learned a few words in Español. After the scholars read the story, I asked them to write about where they would like to fly and what they might see. Ah, the beauty of imagination! They flew over the world's oceans, trees, Memphis, Las Vegas, and parks. Then, a scholar called me over and said, "I would see the shootings." The scholar and I talked along with the class about peaceful ways to solve problems. NO GUNS.

I felt a heaviness the rest of the day and that evening that is still with me — always will be. The bigger challenge is why seven and eight-year-olds must carry that heavy of a thought at such a young age? Aren't these the years to be carefree? Not so much anymore. It’s not fair that young African American and Hispanic children have this image with them in their guts right now in school in 2021. As Langston wrote in, I Too Am America that someday and I quote, "They'll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed."

Through reading library books, children share what is inside their hearts and souls and find ways to liberate the heavy, at least to start. There is so much work ahead. May we all work together to ensure children may be children once again.

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This blog was written by Stephanie Donnis, recipient of the Instructional Assistant of the Year Central One 2021 award at Druid Hills Academy.