Peace fam, so for the past 2 years almost I’ve been working on a new bilingual picture book for older elementary school kids and their families and I want to begin sharing some more about it with you so you’re familiar with it. And I’m excited because I just got the actual book in my hand and it looks amazing! I really hope you all dig it.
Here’s the synopsis of the story: For nine-year-old Alejandria, home isn’t just the apartment she shares with Mami and her abuela, Tita, but rather the whole neighborhood. Home is the bakery where Ms. Beatrice makes yummy picos; the sidewalk where Ms. Alicia sells flowers with her little dog, Duende; and the corner store with friendly Mr. Amir.
But lately the city has been changing, and rent prices are going up. Many people in el barrio are leaving because they can no longer afford their homes, and “For Sale” signs are popping up everywhere. Then the worst thing happens: Mami receives a letter saying they’ll have to move out too.
Alejandria knows it isn’t fair, but she’s not about to give up and leave. Join Alejandria as she brings her community together to fight and save their neighborhood!
The book is bilingual in English and Spanish, its about an Afro Latina and her family, and true to the title its about standing up for your rights!! It is published by Feminist Press in NYC and will be officially out early August, but you can preorder the book now here via Marcus Books’ Bookshop LINK
The book was written by author and poet Leticia Hernández-Linares and a team of creatives and organizers called The Rise Home Stories Project. It was translated by Dr Carla España. In the coming months you’ll hear more about the book and the suite of projects coming from RHSP. In the mean time follow us on social media and go to the books website for more info coming up….
Yo, if you’re a blogger, book reviewer, journalist, etc and you want to review it-get at me. If you missed the interview the creators of the book did with the Ed Collaborative, check that out here.
Great show that hits home for me since I was born in Oakland and grew up in Berkeley and Oakland. Heres a link to East Bay Yesterday’s site w/ more info and photos from this episode.
Another great show which Detroits city tactics which robbed Black families of their homes and wealth. Heres a link to Reveal’s website.
I love this one because Maria keeps it real! WTF!!!!
Some historical background and humor about the history of housing discrimination in the US by the good folks at Codeswitch. Here’s a link to their website.
This is one small fraction , one small movement of a much larger beast known as White Supremacy and Capitalism here in the US. This story picks up right where writer Tanehisi Coates left off when writing about some of the national and federal policies which reinforced, permitted, and encouraged racist ideas and practices towards African Americans (and other people of color) through out the US. In this story on Fresh air author Richard Rothstein talks about federal regulations for housing, bank loans, etc and how federal policies created black ghettos. Which, are ironically being sought after and “discovered” invaded rapidly by young whites from suburb or affluent areas. Connect this to Baltimore, Ferguson, Brooklyn, Oakland, etc.
Note: I disagree with his viewpoints on “misbehavior” because it puts absolutely no responsibility on the part of the cops, the police departments, the district attorneys, the mayors, the governors, and even the president to put a stop to out right racist policies-a virtual green light to punish, beat, or murder any black person without accountability. The viewpoint of “misbehavior” makes it seem as though Blacks who simply behave, follow the law, or come out on top despite the tremendous inequality in every sector of life will not be targeted by Cops-and this is not true.