- I always am a black girl.
I don't get to erase that.
And it all affects my experience.
Our stories tell all of those parts of who we are.
(upbeat pop music)
- When I grew up, which was mid, early sixties.
And there were not any books that had black characters
to identify with that I came across.
- And one of the reasons why I'm a teacher
because as growing up I didn't see
that many African-American school teachers.
I want to be there for a young girl like Marley
or for a young girl like Paris and empower them
and inspire them.
- I was sick and tired of reading about white boys
and their dogs.
And I enjoyed those stories that I was assigned in school,
but my teacher did not pay attention to the fact
that there was little to no representation of black girls
in these books.
And it really hurt my feelings.
(upbeat pop music)
1000 blackgirlbooks started from me sitting
in my classroom, loving to read, loving my teacher
and appreciating what lessons he taught me
but never seeing myself and girls like me as a vehicle
for those lessons.
So after, you know, some reflection, I realized that, hey
this happens at a lot of schools in New Jersey.
And then, hey, this happened at a lot of schools
in the United States.
And then, hey, this happens at a lot of schools
in the world.
(upbeat pop music)
So I think it starts with that first step of bravery talking
about what happened to me, but then also understanding that
hey, this happens to a lot of people
and we need to do something about it.
And we need to do that now.
(upbeat music)
- I was in my classroom and I was in kindergarten
when this happened.
My teacher was reading and it was the first time that a book
made me want to do something.
(upbeat pop music)
- She came home from school
and I asked her Paris, you know
we have a free weekend this weekend.
What are some things that you would like to do?
And she was like, well, I really would like
to make some bags and deliver them to the homeless.
- I just felt like something big would start happening
if I did that one thing.
- One way that Paris tells her own story is
when she's handing out bags to the homeless
on the front of the bag she writes it an inspiring word,
like hope, pray, and love.
And then she puts, you know different types of stickers
on the bag.
And I think that's a part of her way of telling her story
how she was feeling and what words
of encouragement she wants to pass on.
- It's also a way of giving people
a little bit of you, Paris.
That's kind of really neat.
(upbeat music)
- When I talk about you know making herstory
or having a legacy for women,
it's also a legacy for black women.
My experience would not be the same if I was a white woman.
My experience would not be the same if I was a black boy,
but it is that tiny spot where I'm both black and a woman
that makes my story special.
- A lot of my storytelling does come from my own experience
and that's not just my Denise experience,
but my experience being a black girl,
being a black mother,
being a black woman.
(upbeat music)
When American Girl first approached me,
the editorial director, you know said they were thinking
of doing this character set in 1963.
And I said, yes, this is my time.
You know, 1963, I was around age
of the American Girl characters.
I think it's very important to portray real black characters
and black people to black children,
but also to other children.
(upbeat music)
Being an American Girl means to me
to make real the dreams that you have
and become a strong, independent woman.
- When I think about being an American Girl
I think about being so many different things and people
and cultures and foods and practices that they make me proud
of who I am as an American girl, but even more proud to be
that Jamaican Cape Verde and American black girl.
- I feel like I'm the hero of my story.
(upbeat music)
- This has my name on it.
This looks amazing.
It looks exactly like me.
It my American Girl doll version.
- Oh look, and she has a bow just like you do too.
- You always wear your bows.
That's her signature look, her bows.
(screams lightly)
- Oh my goodness.
- And we're matching.
- How is that possible?
- You know, I really would like to see a world where Paris
and I, or any other black girls or girls that are interested
in social activism are not an exception, but rather normal.
- When I tell my story to different little girls
and once they get older, they'll tell it.
- I'm just very proud of her and very proud of her work.
I'm going to keep on supporting her so she can keep adding
on to her story.
- Ah, that's amazing.
I would say that I want to be a part of that continuum
of black women who started out as black girls
who carry on all the things that we've learned
and our sure ability to change the world.
Do as Paris said and tell one,
encourage one, let her encourage the next,
let her encourage the next
so that we are always forward moving.
(upbeat music)