Judy: If by chance you are
looking for something good to
read the summer, you might start
with the books written by our
very own staff.
They are all in very different
styles.
We spoke with them for our arts
and culture series.
>> The title is irresistible.
A book of short essays, prose
poems, and sketches in which she
writes of raising multiracial
children after a divorce.
Especially as an Asian American
woman.
She is based in the greater
Detroit era.
She reports on under told
stories from around the country.
>> Is a collection of stories
inspired by the wisdom of my
multiracial children.
Their feistiness.
My bossy Asian American family.
It is all set against the
backdrop of an uncertain
political.
>> I can see that you are also
exploring your own life in
history and our political and
cultural moment.
>> Some of the stories are
mundane everyday stories.
Teaching my son how to drive.
How do you teach a multiracial
boy how to drive somewhere after
George Floyd is killed?
How do you teach him to deal
with police?
How do you teach children about
this?
How do you teach them to be
safe?
How do you teach other folks to
navigate this?
>> You are writing about serious
things.
I note that there is always some
humor.
>> When you have a room full of
teenage girl sitting around your
kitchen table about boys and you
find there is a lot of humor and
joy in that.
It also connects.
We have the most amazing
conversations.
It is always the wisdom of
people around me.
Finding your identity.
Finding your place in the world.
>> It is also a story of twists
and turns in relationships.
He is now the senior digital
editor.
>> This is something that is a
lifelong dream come true.
Tell a story about black
identity.
I hope it resonates with folks.
It is a story about three gay
Blackman in Detroit.
They are different places in our
lives.
Sometimes in black communities
that is when a lot of pressure
starts to hit.
These three characters are
struggling to get to those
places.
Getting their careers on track.
>> It is important to say that
this is a funny book.
>> A lot of great literature can
be self-loathing.
I wanted something more joyful
and funny.
We are trying to figure these
things out.
We have a lot of mishaps along
the way.
>> This story of black queer
coming-of-age, you are familiar
with it.
Does it exist much in literature
>> You don't often see black
characters centered route many
of the game and I have known
over the years could go to a
bookstore and see part of their
story.
I wanted three strong black
characters.
>> She tells true stories of
others.
She profiles 30 influential
women of color who overcame
barriers in their lives or
careers.
Activists, scientists, cultural
and business figures.
She is the news hours digital
anchor and respondent.
>> The general premise of the
book is focusing not only on the
accomplishments of different
women around the world of color
but how they got there.
Through the lens of the
different types of challenges
and adversity they had to
navigate.
It is intended to be the kind of
book that validates the
challenging experiences we have
all experienced.
And give you some of the tools
to move forward.
>> You felt all of this
personally?
>> Yes.
I'm a woman of color who has to
deal with a lot of challenges.
They feel unique to myself and
to the limiting profile.
>> Is there an example you can
give us?
>> One of the profiles that
really stood out for me was
Stacey Abrams.
It goes back to her high school
days when she was valedictorian
of her high school class.
She was turned away at the door
for a dinner for high school
valedictorians at the governor's
mansion.
It follows her story of being
told she does not belong in
certain spaces all the way up to
her run for governor and how she
navigated failing in that
instance and is now obviously in
the running to run again for
that office.
Having to explore different ways
to bring more voters to the
polls.
>> When you went through the
stories and put them together
and went back look, is there a
common thread that comes
>> Perseverance.
I would also say something my
grandmother used to say.
I attribute a lot of the idea
for this book coming from a
southern black family.
Success is not a zero-sum
equation.
You see a lot of the specific
instances.
Women hitting a wall.
How they navigate that.
It stems from a relationship to
themselves and to seeing the
playing field as big enough for
them.
And for other women like them.
And not operating from a stasis
of scarcity.
>> Congratulations to our news
our authors.