“We Rise, We Resist, We Raise our Voices” by authors and publishers of Black-interest books, Wade Hudson & Cheryl Willis Hudson who ask “in this divisive world, what do we tell our children?”
Aimed at 8 – 12 year olds, and published in 2019, during Donald Trump’s presidency, the authors compiled a collection of essays, letters, poems and stories in response to their young granddaughter Jordyn’s confusion and fear of a world where language of hate directed at women, those with disabilities, people of different faiths and people of colour seemed omnipresent.
“We knew there were thousands - no, millions - of young people like Jordyn, and perhaps, like you, too, who were fearful about the future. What could we tell you? We wondered. What words of comfort could we offer?.....Yes, we are living in challenging times, but we created this book so you will know that you are part of a community that loves you and can give you tools to help navigate the present and the future”. - Wade Hudson & Cheryl Willis Hudson
The book features writing and illustrations by fifty diverse and celebrated children’s authors and illustrators including Kwame Alexander, Jason Reynolds, Jacqueline Woodson, Ekua Holmes, Rafael Lopz, Innosanto Nagara and many more!
Within the collection, there is a letter from a parent to her children on kindness; there’s advice on how to become confident and mindful; there are reminders of how to cope with bullying and how to face internal uncertainty; and an essay on how young people can change the world.
Addressing complex topics with sensitivity and honesty, “We Rise, We Resist, We Raise our Voices” shares some answers to the question “what do we tell our children when the world seems bleak and prejudice and racism run rampant?” and offers an empowering counter to today’s often-unsettling political climate.