My new picture book with illustrator Peter Ambush, One Million Men and Me, has officially debuted! I'm so excited. This story has been years in the making. I am so grateful to my publisher, Just Us Books, for signing this book and bringing it into print. Thanks, too, to Peter who did a beautiful job bringing the story to life.I belong to a wonderful yahoo! listserv called AACBWI (African American Children's Book Writers and Illustrators). Recently, moderator Karen Strong asked us to share the story of how our latest book came to be. Reflecting on that journey brought back so many memories -- joy and pride of being at the March, contentment of finally getting the story onto paper. This is a book I felt called to write.
So here's the story behind One Million Men and Me:
In 1995, I attended the Million Man March and was transformed by what I saw. So many images touched me -- a sea of Black men spread like a quilt across the Washington Mall, brothers of all beliefs and backgrounds hugging and praying as the voices of speakers soared around them, an amazing youth addressing the masses like that was what he was born to do. Then, I saw a little girl walk past the Reflecting Pool clutching her daddy's hand. Her eyes, big as quarters, glittered like diamonds. She looked like a little princess among kings.
A decade later, I started working on the draft of One Million Men and Me, a picture book story that would show the March through the eyes of a little girl who was there with her daddy the day black men made history. I struggled at first to get my idea on paper. I tried to write it as a narrative, but it wouldn't flow that way. I believed in the story, but felt frustrated and put it aside for a while. Then, I attended a fatherhood conference in NC where I live. As I looked at the beautiful men around me who clasped hands and worked together, I was taken back to the March. In a flash, I remembered the images that made me hold my head high and the poetry of that incredible moment in history. I went home and the draft came together in a matter of hours.
Just Us Books offered me a contract on my book later that year. It was the beginning of an exciting journey. One Million Men and Me is my first picture book, the realization of a dream. Editors pushed me to polish the story and make sure I added details that would help children get a sense of what this historic March was about.
I've gone to libraries and asked kids to tell me what they know about the Million Man March. They mention Dr. King, who was assassinated in 1968. For them, the MMM is just as distant as the March on Washington even though the MMM took place just 12 years ago.
I hope children are inspired to learn more about the March. I hope teachers and parents will talk to them about the men -- and women -- who were there that day and what it meant for our people. I would love for children to start asking men in their communities what it was like to be part of the March. These men are living history.
A cool part of the publication process was getting a chance to see my words brought to life by illustrator, Peter Ambush. He created such a sweet portrait of my main character Nia and her father. Creating a picture book really is a partnership. Author and illustrator are storytellers. It was an enriching experience to be part of that collaboration. I feel such pride when I look at the book cover. When I look back, the idea for One Million Men and Me was born at the March more than a decade ago. Now, it's a reality. It's still surreal to see my book on the shelf. I feel really blessed.
To celebrate the release of One Million Men and Me, Just Us Books has launched a national essay contest that asks children in first through fifth grade to write about the most memorable moment spent with a father or father-figure. There are cash prizes. Please spread the word and encourage kids you know to enter. Here's the link:
http://www.justusbooks.com/modules/content/index.php?id=87
